tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21421347856867834852017-07-28T02:29:09.478-04:00AllNicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-83792760205953376292011-12-10T17:28:00.000-05:002011-12-10T17:28:20.700-05:00In My Mailbox #30<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JW5L9t4E_tA/TuPX9pvAbdI/AAAAAAAAAjA/5hvOqI32AJY/s1600/InMyMailbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JW5L9t4E_tA/TuPX9pvAbdI/AAAAAAAAAjA/5hvOqI32AJY/s320/InMyMailbox.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The purpose of the meme is to highlight books that you have received in your mailbox over the past week.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So let's see what I got In My Mailbox this past week.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T7lmFv6EoLI/TuPYWZF5W4I/AAAAAAAAAjI/Bio508c0kco/s1600/f41a5ad2234011e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T7lmFv6EoLI/TuPYWZF5W4I/AAAAAAAAAjI/Bio508c0kco/s320/f41a5ad2234011e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>From Random House Canada</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11274034-everyday-food" target="_blank">Everyday Food Light</a> - Martha Stewart</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11096437-madame-tussaud" target="_blank">Madame Tussaud</a> - Michelle Moran</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11961362-the-jefferson-key" target="_blank">The Jefferson Key</a> - Steve Berry</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>Purchased</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9859337-blood-and-fire" target="_blank">Blood &amp; Fire</a> - Shannon McKenna</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10025305-clockwork-prince" target="_blank">Clockwork Prince</a> - Cassandra Clare</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11100298-city-of-fallen-angels" target="_blank">City of Fallen Angels</a> - Cassandra Clare</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>NetGalley</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MKSFKfu133I/TuPZOCFEXYI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/NVO2wRoAikY/s1600/11436723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MKSFKfu133I/TuPZOCFEXYI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/NVO2wRoAikY/s320/11436723.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11436723-the-demon-lover" target="_blank">Demon Lover</a> (The Fairwick Chronicles #1) - Juliet Dark</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zqT1PrDy1Ns/TuPZyJ6BgQI/AAAAAAAAAjY/hpaIMrLQoho/s1600/517IM0zfiwL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zqT1PrDy1Ns/TuPZyJ6BgQI/AAAAAAAAAjY/hpaIMrLQoho/s320/517IM0zfiwL.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12454864-because-of-you" target="_blank">Because of You</a> - Jessica Scott</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>So that's it for my mailbox this week. &nbsp;If you are into cookbooks, you need to check out the selection from Random House. &nbsp;They are amazing. &nbsp;I am quite enjoying Everyday Food Light and the recipe's are quick, easy and delicious. <br /><br />I of course had to pick up a finished copy of Clockwork Prince. &nbsp;I have already read and reviewed it (you can read it here) and I also bought a paper copy of City of Fallen Angels to complete my Mortal Instruments collection so far.<br /><br />That's it for me. &nbsp;What did you get in your mailbox this week?Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-64897722570993188562011-12-07T10:30:00.001-05:002011-12-07T10:33:39.665-05:00Waiting on Wednesday #18<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MMYtD2FuSYw/Tt-HPvTK8yI/AAAAAAAAAi4/jdI9clMH3yw/s1600/WaitingonWednesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MMYtD2FuSYw/Tt-HPvTK8yI/AAAAAAAAAi4/jdI9clMH3yw/s320/WaitingonWednesday.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at <a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Breaking the Spine</a>. Basically, it’s a chance to highlight one of the many books that you want to read but hasn’t been released just yet.&nbsp; This week I have selected 2 books.<br /><br />My Waiting on Wednesday picks for this week are…<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-85foL66FWJ4/Tt-E2YFcubI/AAAAAAAAAio/LSr_I6etR_o/s1600/12723460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-85foL66FWJ4/Tt-E2YFcubI/AAAAAAAAAio/LSr_I6etR_o/s320/12723460.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><b>Title:</b> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12723460-what-she-left-behind" target="_blank">What She Left Behind</a><br /><b>Author:</b> Tracy Bilen<br /><b>Publisher:</b> Simon Pulse<br /><b>Publication Date:</b> May 1, 2012<br /><br /><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border: 1px solid rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;">“Don’t even think of leaving…I will find you,” he whispered. “Guaranteed.”<br /><br />Sara and her mom have a plan to finally escape Sara’s abusive father. But when her mom doesn’t show up as expected, Sara’s terrified. Her father says that she’s on a business trip, but Sara knows he’s lying. Her mom is missing—and her dad had something to do with it. Each day that passes, Sara’s more on edge. Her friends know that something’s wrong, but she won’t endanger anyone else with her secret. And with her dad growing increasingly violent, Sara must figure out what happened to her mom before it’s too late…for them both.</blockquote><br />I seem to be choosing much darker books latetly.&nbsp; Not really sure why.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fAmX7Q0Ceug/Tt-FTacwsLI/AAAAAAAAAiw/xoadoLDvnTg/s1600/11946938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fAmX7Q0Ceug/Tt-FTacwsLI/AAAAAAAAAiw/xoadoLDvnTg/s320/11946938.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>Title:</b> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11946938-snow-white" target="_blank">Snow White</a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>Author:</b> The Grimm Brothers</div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>Publisher:</b> Harper Collins</div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>Publication Date:</b> February 28, 2012</div><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border: 1px solid rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;">THE REISSUE OF the classic Grimm tale of a beautiful young girl with skin as white as snow, lips and cheeks as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony is breathtakingly realized by acclaimed artist Charles Santore in this lush, lovely picture book.</blockquote><br />Just how amazing do those illustrations look?&nbsp; How can you possibly resist getting this version?&nbsp; I think I may just have to preorder it.Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-73458439176800276302011-12-06T00:01:00.030-05:002011-12-06T16:37:30.218-05:00Review: Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KJ8eKn_uMfU/TtGJMT_ITeI/AAAAAAAAAeg/7twN4-AVE3U/s1600/13038680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KJ8eKn_uMfU/TtGJMT_ITeI/AAAAAAAAAeg/7twN4-AVE3U/s1600/13038680.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yp-jNjIpErU/TrBjVfTWX_I/AAAAAAAAAYs/LCkWZbrJqMI/s1600/Info.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yp-jNjIpErU/TrBjVfTWX_I/AAAAAAAAAYs/LCkWZbrJqMI/s1600/Info.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border: 1px solid rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><table><tbody><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Title:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">Poughkeepsie</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Author:<br /></b></td> <td style="color: black;">Debra Anastasia</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Genre:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">Contemporary Romance</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Rating:<br /></b></td> <td style="color: black;">R</td></tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Publisher:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">Omnific Publishing</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Release Date:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">November 22, 2011</td></tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Pages:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">384</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Source:</b></td><td style="color: black;">Digital ARC</td></tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>My Rating:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">5*</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13038680-poughkeepsie" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743243803/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0743243803http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1936305941/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1936305941" target="_blank">Amazon</a>]</div></blockquote></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jqhFnRgghnc/TrBgwJFzOTI/AAAAAAAAAYE/LwRk-YWZ2nI/s1600/Synopsis.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jqhFnRgghnc/TrBgwJFzOTI/AAAAAAAAAYE/LwRk-YWZ2nI/s1600/Synopsis.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He counts her smiles every day and night at the train station. And morning and evening, the beautiful commuter acknowledges him—just like she does everyone else on the platform. But Blake Hartt is not like the others . . . he’s homeless. Memories of a broken childhood have robbed him of peace and twisted delusions into his soul. He stays secluded from the sun, sure the world would run from him in the harsh light of day. <br /><br />Each day, Livia McHugh smiles politely and acknowledges her fellow commuters as she waits for the train to the city. She dismisses this kindness as nothing special, just like her. She’s the same as a million other girls—certainly no one to be cherished. But special or not, she smiles every day, never imagining that someone would rely on the simple gesture as if it were air to breathe. <br /><br />When the moment comes that Livia must do more than smile, without hesitation she steps into the fray to defend the homeless man. And she's surprised to discover an inexplicable connection with her new friend. After danger subsides, their smiles become conversation. Their words usher in a friendship, which awakens something in each of them. But it’s not long before their bond must prove its strength. Entanglements from the past challenge both their love and their lives. <br /><br />Blake’s heart beats for Livia’s, even if her hands have to keep its rhythm. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love never fails. Love never fails, right? <br /><br />In an interwoven tale of unlikely loves and relationships forged by fire, Debra Anastasia takes readers into the darkest corners of human existence, only to show them the radiant power of pure adoration and true sacrifice. Complicated families and confused souls find their way to light in this novel, which manages to be racy, profane, funny, and reverent all at once.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3n5c1Cw97wg/TrBiByYav-I/AAAAAAAAAYM/E6ro8PF46eU/s1600/Trailer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3n5c1Cw97wg/TrBiByYav-I/AAAAAAAAAYM/E6ro8PF46eU/s1600/Trailer.png" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/3tHdSFrxnp4?feature=player_embedded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FBGnh3g9bUs/TrBid6JvFEI/AAAAAAAAAYU/-SnIkGfrG4E/s1600/Quotes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FBGnh3g9bUs/TrBid6JvFEI/AAAAAAAAAYU/-SnIkGfrG4E/s1600/Quotes.png" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #faf8cc;">&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border-bottom-color: rgb(41, 36, 33); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(41, 36, 33); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(41, 36, 33); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(41, 36, 33); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px; text-align: left;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Livia felt her rage ignite. "Well Oily Comb-Over, looks like I need to buy you a load of Shut Your Mouth for your birthday."</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border: 1px solid rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><blockquote style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia,serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"I...was...screaming like a man...with a cat on his nipple." &nbsp;Beckett slapped his hand of his desk.</span></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border: 1px solid rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><blockquote style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia,serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Livia held her spatula as Blake whispered in her ear. “I see us just like this a hundred years from now, old and deaf. I’ll be the luckiest man.” <br /><br />Emotion caught her—this was all she wanted. Simple, beautiful frittata moments with this man. <br /><br />“Someday, Livia, I’ll be man enough to buy the food,” he continued. “I’ll give you an oven. I’ll try so hard.” </span></span></blockquote></blockquote></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnu5f--f5AY/TrBinGcQsjI/AAAAAAAAAYc/PsVH2V6scWo/s1600/MyThoughts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnu5f--f5AY/TrBinGcQsjI/AAAAAAAAAYc/PsVH2V6scWo/s1600/MyThoughts.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">I have said it before and I will say it again, I love Debra Anastasia.&nbsp; This love began with her debut novel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Crushed Seraphim</i>, and it then followed into my love for her on Twitter (you can follow her <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/Debra_Anastasia" target="_blank">here</a>).&nbsp; So when I was contacted about possibly reviewing a copy of her latest book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Poughkeepsie</i>, I didn’t hesitate to jump at the chance.&nbsp; Best. Decision. Ever.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I admit, that when I started reading Poughkeepsie, I had absolutely no idea what the book was about.&nbsp; The fact that Debra wrote it was more than enough to get me to read it and I can honestly say that I wasn’t disappointed.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It’s still hard for me to define Poughkeepsie and tell you exactly what it was about, but I will give it a shot.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">At its core Poughkeepsie is about a romance between Blake and Livia.&nbsp; But to say that that was all Poughkeepsie was about is to seriously sell the book short.&nbsp; Yes, it is about romance.&nbsp; But it is also about family.&nbsp; It’s about connections.&nbsp; It’s about the resilience of the human spirit.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">The characters that Debra Anastasia has created are just phenomenal and support the story so well.&nbsp; You have Livia who has a heart of gold, Blake whose spirit is so heartbreakingly beautiful, Kyle who is lost an constantly searching to be enough, Cole who has struggled to contain the rage inside of him, and Beckett.&nbsp; Who could forget wonderful, conflicted, loyal and naughty Beckett?&nbsp; On the surface, none of these characters seem to have anything in common with one another.&nbsp; As you dive further and further into the story, you see the ties and bonds between them and you watch as they are tested, reformed and strengthened.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">There is plenty of action, suspense, romance and hilarity to be found in Poughkeepsie. Debra Anastasia has outdone herself with her latest novel and as long as she keeps writing like this I will keep reading.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6s19e0Kx0Aw/Tt6KGsQL-oI/AAAAAAAAAig/mEOnyqO-hGQ/s1600/PoughHomeTour2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6s19e0Kx0Aw/Tt6KGsQL-oI/AAAAAAAAAig/mEOnyqO-hGQ/s320/PoughHomeTour2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />There are 2 eCopies of Poughkeepsie to give away on the blog today.&nbsp; To enter, please use the rafflecopter widget below.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Good Luck!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><script id="rafl-script" type="text/javascript">RafflecopterSettings = { raffleID: 'NzlkZjJhNmRhZDMwZTY5YjI3NmYwZTY3OTQzNTYwOjEx' }; </script><br /><script src="https://rafflecopter.ssl.dotcloud.com/static/js/widget/rafl-widget.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><noscript>&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;.</noscript>Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-88828095456622036462011-12-02T23:16:00.000-05:002011-12-02T23:16:32.589-05:00In My Mailbox #29<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-96H0p6CDZQg/TmwYwdFMMgI/AAAAAAAAAHs/hMYzys26XHw/s1600/In-My-Mailbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-96H0p6CDZQg/TmwYwdFMMgI/AAAAAAAAAHs/hMYzys26XHw/s320/In-My-Mailbox.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren.<br /><br />The purpose of the meme is to highlight books that you have received in your mailbox over the past week.<br /><br />On Friday afternoon, myself and some of my bookish friends met up for a shopping trip to the World's Biggest Bookstore in downtown Toronto and then headed over to grab some dinner at the Pickle Barrel! It was great fun, and great to catch up with a bunch of ladies I absolutely adore. &nbsp;*Waves hi to Angel, Michelle, Christa, Natasha, Sara, Jen and Wendy*<br /><br />Anyway, lets see what I got in my mailbox this week.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>Purchased</b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OCl-9_hoYj4/TtmVL10n26I/AAAAAAAAAfw/GVxLLz2_dqo/s1600/c650e5f21d5b11e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OCl-9_hoYj4/TtmVL10n26I/AAAAAAAAAfw/GVxLLz2_dqo/s320/c650e5f21d5b11e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ol><li>Melody Burning - Whitley Strieber&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805093273/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0805093273" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10792677-melody-burning" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</li><li>Wintertown - Stephen Emond&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316133329/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0316133329" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10757844-wintertown" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</li><li>Anna and the French Kiss - Stephanie Perkins&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0142419400/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0142419400" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6936382-anna-and-the-french-kiss" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</li><li>Rosebush - Michele Jaffe&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1595143831/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1595143831" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10803382-rosebush" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</li><li>I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I want to be your Class President - Josh Lieb&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1595143548/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1595143548" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8041294-i-am-a-genius-of-unspeakable-evil-and-i-want-to-be-your-class-president" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</li><li>The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove - Lauren Kate&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1595145176/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1595145176" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11035606-the-betrayal-of-natalie-hargrove" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</li><li>Faking Faith - Josie Bloss&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738727571/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0738727571" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10752154-faking-faith" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</li><li>Cryer's Cross - Lisa McMann [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416994823/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1416994823" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10640453-cryer-s-cross" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</li></ol><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>NetGalley</b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XqVHUHjOvKM/TtmWxfyB5bI/AAAAAAAAAf4/frosaCm8Hz4/s1600/11801954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XqVHUHjOvKM/TtmWxfyB5bI/AAAAAAAAAf4/frosaCm8Hz4/s320/11801954.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the Snow - S.D. Crockett&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312641699/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0312641699" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11801954-after-the-snow" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o7XqldPIugU/TtmXSzL6-tI/AAAAAAAAAgA/feHXSz4uweI/s1600/10445208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o7XqldPIugU/TtmXSzL6-tI/AAAAAAAAAgA/feHXSz4uweI/s320/10445208.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Touch of Power - Maria V. Snyder&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0778313077/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0778313077" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10445208-touch-of-power" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fhWi3q8c3dk/TtmXabPEt5I/AAAAAAAAAgI/NrIGZFuB8vA/s1600/10508775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fhWi3q8c3dk/TtmXabPEt5I/AAAAAAAAAgI/NrIGZFuB8vA/s320/10508775.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On A Dark Wing - Jordan Dane&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0373210418/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0373210418" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10508775-on-a-dark-wing" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I_vEpe6NIZU/TtmXht96C1I/AAAAAAAAAgQ/YcE415ashpk/s1600/51KO6jzXj7L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I_vEpe6NIZU/TtmXht96C1I/AAAAAAAAAgQ/YcE415ashpk/s320/51KO6jzXj7L.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Enchanted Again - Robin D. Owens&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0373803419/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0373803419" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11832549-enchanted-again" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NYK6TEl-03I/TtmXo6YzDEI/AAAAAAAAAgY/t32rbU1_WG8/s1600/6056287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NYK6TEl-03I/TtmXo6YzDEI/AAAAAAAAAgY/t32rbU1_WG8/s320/6056287.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Allegiance - Cayla Kluver&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0373210434/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0373210434" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6056287-allegiance" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WbRrMcDRuu8/TtmXwXpBsKI/AAAAAAAAAgg/SICwWJkeyak/s1600/12085568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WbRrMcDRuu8/TtmXwXpBsKI/AAAAAAAAAgg/SICwWJkeyak/s320/12085568.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">New Girl - Paige Harbison&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0373210426/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0373210426" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12085568-new-girl" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iayPrFjNqhI/TtmX3oOBNsI/AAAAAAAAAgo/Ntf5G54sBVk/s1600/51KEKC4Nh6L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iayPrFjNqhI/TtmX3oOBNsI/AAAAAAAAAgo/Ntf5G54sBVk/s320/51KEKC4Nh6L.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Night She Disappeared - April Henry&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805092625/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0805092625" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12013031-the-night-she-disappeared" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3gNflQxI94c/TtmX-sRMLTI/AAAAAAAAAgw/IpBQecajN-w/s1600/11801958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3gNflQxI94c/TtmX-sRMLTI/AAAAAAAAAgw/IpBQecajN-w/s320/11801958.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Life is But a Dream - Brian James&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312610041/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0312610041" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11801958-life-is-but-a-dream" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-20FhhxCgtCs/TtmYc6w2ClI/AAAAAAAAAhA/JeTGQ3eU2ME/s1600/41zPfEUteXL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-20FhhxCgtCs/TtmYc6w2ClI/AAAAAAAAAhA/JeTGQ3eU2ME/s320/41zPfEUteXL.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pride - Penny Jordan&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/026388757X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=026388757X" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11185999-pride" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ns2PLxgVTUQ/TtmY2HEwKiI/AAAAAAAAAhI/kazIgOpUFOU/s1600/12255481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ns2PLxgVTUQ/TtmY2HEwKiI/AAAAAAAAAhI/kazIgOpUFOU/s320/12255481.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Seal of My Dreams - Various&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1611940516/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1611940516" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12961262-seal-of-my-dreams" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><b>GalleyGrab</b></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LQyvj188S6o/TtmYGCNbZ-I/AAAAAAAAAg4/A6L_GOGVml4/s1600/51bzb9Mz3qL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LQyvj188S6o/TtmYGCNbZ-I/AAAAAAAAAg4/A6L_GOGVml4/s320/51bzb9Mz3qL.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Never Enough - Denise Jaden&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1442429070/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1442429070" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12974770-never-enough" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yeah, can you tell that I am making use of my new e-reader? &nbsp;Oooh and I somehow got on Harlequin's auto-approve list on NetGalley. &nbsp;I am not really sure how, but who cares?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What did you get in your mailbox this week?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-55835596342391744062011-12-01T10:00:00.018-05:002011-12-07T10:44:01.424-05:00Review: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jd1z9AQt9FM/TrscrV5I5MI/AAAAAAAAAbs/06Yj7nA4Hi8/s1600/51oYEEd2HpL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jd1z9AQt9FM/TrscrV5I5MI/AAAAAAAAAbs/06Yj7nA4Hi8/s320/51oYEEd2HpL.jpg" width="211" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yp-jNjIpErU/TrBjVfTWX_I/AAAAAAAAAYs/LCkWZbrJqMI/s1600/Info.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yp-jNjIpErU/TrBjVfTWX_I/AAAAAAAAAYs/LCkWZbrJqMI/s1600/Info.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border: 1px solid rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><table><tbody><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Title:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices #2)</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Author:<br /></b></td> <td style="color: black;">Cassandra Clare</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Genre:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">YA, Steampunk</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Rating:<br /></b></td> <td style="color: black;">PG</td></tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Publisher:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">Margaret K. McElderry Books</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Release Date:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">December 6, 2011</td></tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Pages:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">497</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Source:</b></td><td style="color: black;">ARC provided by publisher</td></tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>My Rating:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">4.5*</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10025305-clockwork-prince" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416975888/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=1416975888" target="_blank">Amazon</a>]</div></blockquote></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jqhFnRgghnc/TrBgwJFzOTI/AAAAAAAAAYE/LwRk-YWZ2nI/s1600/Synopsis.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jqhFnRgghnc/TrBgwJFzOTI/AAAAAAAAAYE/LwRk-YWZ2nI/s1600/Synopsis.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.<br /><br />With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.<br /><br />Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?<br /><br />As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3n5c1Cw97wg/TrBiByYav-I/AAAAAAAAAYM/E6ro8PF46eU/s1600/Trailer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3n5c1Cw97wg/TrBiByYav-I/AAAAAAAAAYM/E6ro8PF46eU/s1600/Trailer.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/GvNQ2xLWfRI?feature=player_embedded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FBGnh3g9bUs/TrBid6JvFEI/AAAAAAAAAYU/-SnIkGfrG4E/s1600/Quotes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FBGnh3g9bUs/TrBid6JvFEI/AAAAAAAAAYU/-SnIkGfrG4E/s1600/Quotes.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border: 1px solid rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;">This was Jem – her friend, as steady and reliable as a heartbeat. Jem did not set her skin on fire or make the blood rush fast inside her veins until she was dizzy.</blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border: 1px solid rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;">“Until death,” Jem replied gently. “Those are the words of the oath. ‘Until aught but death part thee and me.’ Someday, Will, I will go where none can follow me, and I think it will be sooner rather than later.”</blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border: 1px solid rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;">Tessa did not need to touch Jessamine’s mind to know what she was thinking. Even the diamond had not been real.</blockquote><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnu5f--f5AY/TrBinGcQsjI/AAAAAAAAAYc/PsVH2V6scWo/s1600/MyThoughts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnu5f--f5AY/TrBinGcQsjI/AAAAAAAAAYc/PsVH2V6scWo/s1600/MyThoughts.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I was got an ARC of this book from the lovely Jen from <a href="http://raymentsreadingsrantandramblings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Rayment's Readings, Rants &amp; Ramblings </a>and I am so glad that I did.&nbsp; Getting the ARC actually pushed me to read book one in the Infernal Devices Series, <i>Clockwork Angel</i>.&nbsp; After reading book one and enjoying it, I immediately picked up the ARC of <i>Clockwork Prince</i> and dived right in.&nbsp; Seriously, I have no idea how I am supposed to wait for book three now.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All of the things that I loved in <i>Clockwork Ange</i>l were brought right back and doubled in <i>Clockwork Prince</i>.&nbsp; The setting, the characters, the history and story were just developed so beautifully and at such a great pace.&nbsp; The story just unfolds effortlessly and hooks you right from the very first page.&nbsp; <i>Clockwork Prince</i> is definitely one of my favourite books of 2011.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Remember how in my<a href="http://www.nicoleabouttown.com/2011/11/review-clockwork-angel-by-cassandra.html" target="_blank"> review</a> of <i>Clockwork Angel</i> I said that I didn't like Will?&nbsp; Well let me revise that statement to say that I didn't like Will in that book, but loved him in <i>Clockwork Prince</i>.&nbsp; I found that learning that there was a motivation and reason behind his behaviour made him much more likable.&nbsp; In fact, by the end of the book you actually begin to see him for what he really is; a seventeen year old boy trying to make the best of a bad situation to the best of his ability.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tessa still annoyed me, but it was nice to see her experience some personal growth.&nbsp; Jess still made me want to light myself on fire every time she appeared.&nbsp; There really is no other character, that comes to mind, that has ever made me giddily anticipate the moment they finally get what is coming to them quite like Jess does.&nbsp; Jem finally showed some grit and determination.&nbsp; There was some steel in his spine and fire in his eyes and it really made me like him that much more.&nbsp; And of course Magnus Bane is still made of awesome and win.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Clockwork Prince</i> is a fabulous follow up in the Infernal Devices Series.&nbsp; If Cassandra Clare keeps writing like this she will continue to cement her place in the hearts and imaginations of readers everywhere.<br /><br /><br /></div>Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-74275743969874493222011-11-30T13:54:00.001-05:002011-11-30T14:43:49.061-05:00Waiting on Wednesday # 17: Lost Girls by Ann KelleyWaiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at <a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Breaking the Spine</a>. Basically, it’s a chance to highlight one of the many books that you want to read but hasn’t been released just yet.<br /><br />My Waiting on Wednesday pick for this week is…<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_teC2d2QsCY/TtZ6_pZ6ryI/AAAAAAAAAfo/T68brrkIAGg/s1600/12814600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_teC2d2QsCY/TtZ6_pZ6ryI/AAAAAAAAAfo/T68brrkIAGg/s320/12814600.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><b>Title:</b> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12814600-lost-girls" target="_blank">Lost Girls</a><br /><b>Author:</b> Ann Kelley<br /><b>Publisher:</b> Little Brown Books for Young Readers<br /><b>Publication Date:</b> July 10, 2012<br /><br /><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border: 1px solid rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;">No parents. No rules. No way home.<br /><br />Fourteen-year-old Bonnie MacDonald couldn't be more excited for a camping trip on an island off the coast of Thailand with her fellow Amelia Earhart Cadets-the daughters of the men and women stationed there during the Vietnam War. But when a strong current deposits the girls on what their boatman calls the "forbidden island," things take a turn for the worse: A powerful storm comes to destroy their campsite, the smallest of the junior cadets is found dead, and their boatman never returns. What once seemed like a vacation in paradise has become a battle against the elements.<br /><br />Peppered with short, frantic entries from Bonnie's journal, Lost Girls is a page-turning, heart-pounding adventure story about a group of teen girls fighting for their lives.</blockquote><br />How coold does that sound?&nbsp; It's like Lord of the Flies, but with girls.&nbsp; Even though I already have an ARC of this one, I am forcing myself not to read it until at least May.&nbsp; We will see how well that works out.<br /><br />What is your Waiting on Wednesday pick this week?Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-56678413609911922052011-11-30T13:42:00.002-05:002011-11-30T19:18:02.188-05:00Review: Want to Go Private by Sarah Darer Littman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bfZknU4FoBE/TpCXRQ-y3iI/AAAAAAAAANA/cJ3ZbOv0WLs/s1600/8922184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bfZknU4FoBE/TpCXRQ-y3iI/AAAAAAAAANA/cJ3ZbOv0WLs/s320/8922184.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yp-jNjIpErU/TrBjVfTWX_I/AAAAAAAAAYs/LCkWZbrJqMI/s1600/Info.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yp-jNjIpErU/TrBjVfTWX_I/AAAAAAAAAYs/LCkWZbrJqMI/s1600/Info.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border: 1px solid rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><table><tbody><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Title:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">Want to Go Private?</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Author:<br /></b></td> <td style="color: black;">Sarah Darer Littman</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Genre:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">YA, Social Issues</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Rating:<br /></b></td> <td style="color: black;">PG-13</td></tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Publisher:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">Scholastic Press</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Release Date:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">August 1, 2011</td></tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Pages:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">330</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Source:</b></td><td style="color: black;">Finished Copy</td></tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>My Rating:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">5*</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8922184-want-to-go-private" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545151465/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=054515146" target="_blank">Amazon</a>]</div></blockquote></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jqhFnRgghnc/TrBgwJFzOTI/AAAAAAAAAYE/LwRk-YWZ2nI/s1600/Synopsis.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jqhFnRgghnc/TrBgwJFzOTI/AAAAAAAAAYE/LwRk-YWZ2nI/s1600/Synopsis.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Abby and Luke chat online. They've never met. But they are going to. Soon.<br /><br />Abby is starting high school—it should be exciting, so why doesn't she care? Everyone tells her to "make an effort," but why can't she just be herself? Abby quickly feels like she's losing a grip on her once-happy life. The only thing she cares about anymore is talking to Luke, a guy she met online, who understands. It feels dangerous and yet good to chat with Luke—he is her secret, and she's his. Then Luke asks her to meet him, and she does. But Luke isn't who he says he is. When Abby goes missing, everyone is left to put together the pieces. If they don't, they'll never see Abby again.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FBGnh3g9bUs/TrBid6JvFEI/AAAAAAAAAYU/-SnIkGfrG4E/s1600/Quotes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FBGnh3g9bUs/TrBid6JvFEI/AAAAAAAAAYU/-SnIkGfrG4E/s1600/Quotes.png" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #faf8cc;">&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border-bottom-color: rgb(41, 36, 33); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(41, 36, 33); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(41, 36, 33); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(41, 36, 33); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px; text-align: left;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">&nbsp;“...I grab my laptop and log on to ChezTeen.com. Within minutes, I'm surrounded by friends, even though I've never met any of them. There, I can pretend that my first day of school was fantastic, because no one is going to know anything different. I can be anyone I want to be when I'm online and I don't even have to wear makeup.”</span></span></blockquote></blockquote></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnu5f--f5AY/TrBinGcQsjI/AAAAAAAAAYc/PsVH2V6scWo/s1600/MyThoughts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnu5f--f5AY/TrBinGcQsjI/AAAAAAAAAYc/PsVH2V6scWo/s1600/MyThoughts.png" /></a></div><br /><br />This book had been sitting in my TBR pile for quite some time. On a whim, I decided to pick it up for what I thought was going to be some 'light' reading. Yeah, so not a good call. While I would consider this book an 'easy' read it is definately cannot be considered a 'light' read. <i>Want to Go Private?</i> reads as a cautionary take depicting the alienation and grooming of a vulnerable teenager by an online predator and her journey to heal. <br /><br />The story is told mainly from the prespective of th emain character Abby. There are instances where a portion of the story is told by one of the cast of supporting characters. Watching Abby go from a happy, but insecure teenage to a victim is pretty difficult. <i>Want to Go Private?</i> is pretty detailed and in my opinion fairly accurate in showing jus thow Abby was being groomed and not even realizing it. There was something so disturbing about watching Abby descend down this path unaware while you, the reader, is fully aware where this is headed. <br /><br />Reading <i>Want to Go Private?</i> by Sarah Darer Littman was like watching an episode of Dateline's How to Catch a Predator, but in reverse. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-76814249870604990872011-11-26T19:59:00.000-05:002011-11-26T19:59:08.133-05:00In My Mailbox #28<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-96H0p6CDZQg/TmwYwdFMMgI/AAAAAAAAAHs/hMYzys26XHw/s1600/In-My-Mailbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-96H0p6CDZQg/TmwYwdFMMgI/AAAAAAAAAHs/hMYzys26XHw/s320/In-My-Mailbox.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren.<br /><br />The purpose of the meme is to highlight books that you have received in your mailbox over the past week.<br /><br />I have to admit that I have been slacking this week something fierce. &nbsp;I didn't do much reading nor did I do any posts. &nbsp;I was just so unmotivated this week, but I am back on track for next week.<br /><br />Anyway, let's see what I got in my mailbox this week....<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />So on Tuesday I attended a Fish &amp; Chips Party at the Harper Collins Canada HQ. &nbsp;This party was in celebration for author Peter James winning an ITV Crime Writer's award. &nbsp;While we were there, I received a copy of his newest standalone novel Perfect People which comes out in December 2011. &nbsp;I also received a copy of Arcadia Awakens which comes out in February 2012.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2GOumKhiQeY/TtGFq1N3PtI/AAAAAAAAAeA/T7KB3j_m5_c/s1600/HC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2GOumKhiQeY/TtGFq1N3PtI/AAAAAAAAAeA/T7KB3j_m5_c/s320/HC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Perfect People - Peter James</div><div style="text-align: center;">Arcadia Awakens - Kai Meyer</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: left;">Of course only I would forget that the Holiday shopping season is now in full effect and venture out to the mall at 3 pm on a Saturday afternoon. &nbsp;I consider it a great success that I didn't go postal on anyone during my afternoon out. &nbsp;I didn't even make any children cry *pats self on the back*. &nbsp;While out I picked up some books.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z9PzEvllFX4/TtGGjy9TmsI/AAAAAAAAAeI/vws3y0XtGMA/s1600/Purc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z9PzEvllFX4/TtGGjy9TmsI/AAAAAAAAAeI/vws3y0XtGMA/s320/Purc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Peter Nimble - Jonathan Auxier</div><div style="text-align: center;">Touch of Frost - Jennifer Estep</div><div style="text-align: center;">Kiss of Frost - Jennifer Estep</div><div style="text-align: center;">Variant - Robison Wells</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: left;">The whole point of my shopping excursion was to finally pick up a new e-reader to replace my broken Kindle. &nbsp;I got my hands on a Kobo Vox eReader and I have to say I am loving it. &nbsp;Thanks to the instructions from my lovely Gwen, I was able to get my pdf books to work on it. &nbsp;Even better, I was able to log back into NetGalley for the first time since July to actually request new books! &nbsp;Oh the Joy!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gHjUGKWPQVQ/TtGHZ7ZR5GI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/OMxYvc9exuQ/s1600/Kobo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gHjUGKWPQVQ/TtGHZ7ZR5GI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/OMxYvc9exuQ/s320/Kobo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I picked up the all black one and a blue case to put it in. &nbsp;Best $250 spent ever!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Somehow this week, I also managed to break my DVD player so I had to pick up a new one. &nbsp;I took the plunge and picked up a blu-ray player to replace it. &nbsp;Of course when I got home, I discovered that I should have picked up two players as the one in the living room is broken as well! I just can't win!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TT1WhhTY-Mc/TtGIC0nTwvI/AAAAAAAAAeY/p2vFZqHOedk/s1600/DVD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TT1WhhTY-Mc/TtGIC0nTwvI/AAAAAAAAAeY/p2vFZqHOedk/s320/DVD.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It only cost my $130 so I am headed out tomorrow morning to pick up a second one!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Best thing about the new eReader is that I can stop trying to read e-books on my laptop. &nbsp;I can also start accepting e-books for review once again. &nbsp;In celebration, I bought some new ones and I got one for review.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KJ8eKn_uMfU/TtGJMT_ITeI/AAAAAAAAAeg/7twN4-AVE3U/s1600/13038680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KJ8eKn_uMfU/TtGJMT_ITeI/AAAAAAAAAeg/7twN4-AVE3U/s320/13038680.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13038680-poughkeepsie" target="_blank">Poughkeepsie</a> - Debra Anastasia</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-quUhCYDRmfI/TtGJ9gf0UtI/AAAAAAAAAeo/tNll_cUV3qU/s1600/51wY7KvLfiL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-quUhCYDRmfI/TtGJ9gf0UtI/AAAAAAAAAeo/tNll_cUV3qU/s320/51wY7KvLfiL.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12999216-warlord-wants-forever" target="_blank">The Warlord Wants Forever</a> - Kresley Cole</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zL_H0DcN890/TtGKLJpTKvI/AAAAAAAAAew/_VW2qtrjBj4/s1600/51TwFz6ryZL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zL_H0DcN890/TtGKLJpTKvI/AAAAAAAAAew/_VW2qtrjBj4/s320/51TwFz6ryZL.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12150069-the-grunt" target="_blank">The Grunt</a> - Latrivia S. Nelson</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EpCi7n6dodc/TtGKPu_0f5I/AAAAAAAAAe4/4ADBZ-axeT8/s1600/9779107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EpCi7n6dodc/TtGKPu_0f5I/AAAAAAAAAe4/4ADBZ-axeT8/s320/9779107.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7679583-dmitry-s-closet" target="_blank">Dmitry's Closet</a> - Latrivia S. Nelson</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What did you get in your mailbox this week?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-77498965020209397302011-11-19T13:11:00.000-05:002011-11-19T13:11:18.122-05:00In My Mailbox #27<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-96H0p6CDZQg/TmwYwdFMMgI/AAAAAAAAAHs/hMYzys26XHw/s1600/In-My-Mailbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-96H0p6CDZQg/TmwYwdFMMgI/AAAAAAAAAHs/hMYzys26XHw/s320/In-My-Mailbox.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at <a href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/" target="_blank">The Story Siren</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The purpose of the meme is to highlight books that you have received in your mailbox over the past week. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have to admit, I had a pretty epic mailbox this week. &nbsp;On to the books!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: left;">So first, I got this package of awesome from Crystal at Raincoast Books! &nbsp;They are absolutely amazing and sent me some ARC's of upcoming 2012 YA releases, some finished copies of 2011 YA releases, and a couple of catalogue's for me to go through. &nbsp;I must say, I do like looking through the physical catalogues as opposed to the online versions.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--lTkkWbZzBE/TsffOrp2pzI/AAAAAAAAAdE/Nl5jQJH5dSM/s1600/4bf4e63c108611e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--lTkkWbZzBE/TsffOrp2pzI/AAAAAAAAAdE/Nl5jQJH5dSM/s320/4bf4e63c108611e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ol><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11455096-tempest" target="_blank">Tempest</a> - Julie Cross [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312568894/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0312568894" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Tempest-Julie-Cross/9780312568894/?a_aid=nicoleabouttown" target="_blank">Book Depository</a>] <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">January 17, 2012</span></b></li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11457525-switched" target="_blank">Switched</a> - Amanda Hocking &nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250006317/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=1250006317" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Switched-Amanda-Hocking/9781250006318/?a_aid=nicoleabouttown" target="_blank">Book Depository</a>] <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">January 3, 2012</span></b></li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11235712-cinder" target="_blank">Cinder</a> - Marissa Meyer&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312641893/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0312641893" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Cinder-Marissa-Meyer/9780312641894/?a_aid=nicoleabouttown" target="_blank">Book Depository</a>] <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">January 3, 2012</span></b></li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12288524-embrace" target="_blank">Embrace</a> - Jessica Shirvington&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1402268408/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=1402268408" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Embrace-Jessica-Shirvington/9781402268403/?a_aid=nicoleabouttown" target="_blank">Book Depository</a>] <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>March 1, 2012</b></span></li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10841337-if-i-tell" target="_blank">If I Tell</a> - Janet Gurtler&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1402261039/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=1402261039" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/If-I-Tell-Janet-Gurtler/9781402261039/?a_aid=nicoleabouttown" target="_blank">Book Depository</a>] <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>October 1, 2011</b></span></li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10718705-the-predicteds" target="_blank">The Predicteds</a> - Christine Seifert&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1402260490/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=1402260490" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Predicteds-Christine-Seifert/9781402260490/?a_aid=nicoleabouttown" target="_blank">Book Depository</a>] <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>September 1, 2011</b></span></li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10174795-glow" target="_blank">Glow</a> - Amy Kathleen Ryan&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312590563/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0312590563" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Glow-Amy-Kathleen-Ryan/9780312590567/?a_aid=nicoleabouttown" target="_blank">Book Depository</a>] <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>September 13, 2011</b></span></li></ol><br /><div style="text-align: left;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: left;">Up next, I got three books from Kaitlin at Hachette Book Group Canada. &nbsp;They included some very highly anticipated ARC 2012 YA releases. &nbsp;I think the earliest one that comes out is in April 2012 so the reviews for these ones are a long way off, but maybe I'll do some 'Teaser Tuesday' posts.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G1YqiCZzPhM/TsfiIxP2aFI/AAAAAAAAAdM/IwpyEfhVVSI/s1600/c5d0686812cb11e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G1YqiCZzPhM/TsfiIxP2aFI/AAAAAAAAAdM/IwpyEfhVVSI/s320/c5d0686812cb11e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><ol><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12860573-172-hours-on-the-moon" target="_blank">172 Hours on the Moon</a> - Johan Harstad&nbsp;[<a href="ttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316182885/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0316182885" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/172-Hours-on-Moon-Johan-Harstad/9781907411519/?a_aid=nicoleabouttown" target="_blank">Book Depository</a>] <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">April 1, 2012</span></b></li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12814540-the-last-princess" target="_blank">The Last Princess</a> - Galaxy Craze&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316185485/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0316185485" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Last-Princess-Galaxy-Craze/9780316185486/?a_aid=nicoleabouttown" target="_blank">Book Depository</a>] <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">May 8, 2012</span></b></li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12814600-lost-girls" target="_blank">Lost Girls</a> - Ann Kelley&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/031609062X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=031609062X" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Lost-Girls-Ann-Kelley/9780316090629/?a_aid=nicoleabouttown" target="_blank">Book Depository</a>] <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">July 10, 2012</span></b></li></ol><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then I got this package of win from Shannon at Harper Collins Canada. &nbsp;I &lt;3 Shannon so much! &nbsp;She includes notes on all of her books reminding me of what the release dates are, which I confess, is sometimes very desperately needed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zHFx99el_hM/TsfjjdKb-PI/AAAAAAAAAdU/sdrpXPmWpAA/s1600/fc649ff212cb11e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zHFx99el_hM/TsfjjdKb-PI/AAAAAAAAAdU/sdrpXPmWpAA/s320/fc649ff212cb11e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ol><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12139342-archon" target="_blank">Archon: The Books of Raziel</a> - Sabrina Benulis&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062069403/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0062069403" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Archon-Sabrina-Benulis/9780062069405/?a_aid=nicoleabouttown" target="_blank">Book Depository</a>] <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">December 27, 2011</span></b></li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13037601-40-things-i-want-to-tell-you" target="_blank">40 Things I Want to Tell You</a> - Alice Kuipers &nbsp;<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>February 21, 2012</b></span></li></ol><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div>Then I won a book from Gabrielle over at Viking Books who I happen to follow on Twitter. &nbsp;God, I love Twitter! &nbsp;Since I actively started blogging and joined twitter back in May, I have met so many great people, won some very cool stuff, or been invited to some really cool events. &nbsp;Some of the best networking ever!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z3el2GcbmIo/Tsfkm1hxhUI/AAAAAAAAAdc/p6mGrk4sdgw/s1600/a2a744300fb811e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z3el2GcbmIo/Tsfkm1hxhUI/AAAAAAAAAdc/p6mGrk4sdgw/s320/a2a744300fb811e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><ol><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1772531.Mortal_Syntax" target="_blank">Mortal Syntax 101</a> - June Casagrande&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Mortal-Syntax-June-Casagrande/9780143113324/?a_aid=nicoleabouttown" target="_blank">Book Depository</a>]</li></ol><div>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div></div><div>Of course with me, you know that no week is complete without me hitting up a bookstore. &nbsp;This time I went twice and picked up a few new books each time.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ALgH5zWCX_w/TsflST_qBCI/AAAAAAAAAdk/AU3nuFDeeNI/s1600/f7e570180ef311e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ALgH5zWCX_w/TsflST_qBCI/AAAAAAAAAdk/AU3nuFDeeNI/s320/f7e570180ef311e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trip #1</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ol><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11809168-shatter-me" target="_blank">Shatter Me</a> - Tahereh Mafi&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062085484/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0062085484" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Shatter-Me-Tahereh-Mafi/9780062085481/?a_aid=nicoleabouttown" target="_blank">Book Depository</a>] <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">November 15, 2011</span></b></li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11045709-when-she-woke" target="_blank">When She Woke </a>- Hillary Jordan&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1565126297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=1565126297" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/When-She-Woke-Hillary-Jordan/9781565126299/?a_aid=nicoleabouttown" target="_blank">Book Depository</a>] <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">October 4, 2011</span></b></li><li>Hunger Games Box Set - Suzanne Collins&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545265355/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0545265355" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Hunger-Games-Trilogy-Boxed-Set-Suzanne-Collins/9780545265355/?a_aid=nicoleabouttown" target="_blank">Book Depository</a>]&nbsp;</li></ol><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sQ1vkj0LsiA/TsfllTDFA_I/AAAAAAAAAds/Mx02bYy_GA4/s1600/c35da9dc12cc11e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sQ1vkj0LsiA/TsfllTDFA_I/AAAAAAAAAds/Mx02bYy_GA4/s320/c35da9dc12cc11e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trip #2</td></tr></tbody></table><div><ol><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10776592-the-boy-in-the-suitcase" target="_blank">The Boy in the Suitcase</a> - Lene Kaaberbol &amp; Agnete Friis&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/156947981X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=156947981X" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Boy-Suitcase-Lene-Kaaberbol/9781569479810/?a_aid=nicoleabouttown" target="_blank">Book Depository</a>]<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> November 8, 2011</span></b></li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8534799-dreams-of-a-dark-warrior" target="_blank">Dreams of a Dark Warrior</a> - Kresley Cole&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1439136807/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=1439136807" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Dreams-Dark-Warrior-Kresley-Cole/9781439136805/?a_aid=nicoleabouttown" target="_blank">Book Depository</a>] <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">February 15, 2011</span></b></li></ol></div>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><div>So that is my mailbox for this week. &nbsp;I must admit, I have already begun reading several of the books I received. &nbsp;I am going in chronological order in my reading schedule, well as far as ARC's go. &nbsp;For finished copies of already released books, I am just reading whatever I feel like.<br /><br />What did you get in your mailbox this week?</div>Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-48586370670771864822011-11-17T16:49:00.001-05:002011-11-22T10:47:31.208-05:00Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Aa2_nuDz0U/TrsTqXGI_vI/AAAAAAAAAbk/ALCxVQugwys/s320/51IXiPNg3qL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Aa2_nuDz0U/TrsTqXGI_vI/AAAAAAAAAbk/ALCxVQugwys/s320/51IXiPNg3qL.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yp-jNjIpErU/TrBjVfTWX_I/AAAAAAAAAYs/LCkWZbrJqMI/s1600/Info.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yp-jNjIpErU/TrBjVfTWX_I/AAAAAAAAAYs/LCkWZbrJqMI/s1600/Info.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border: 1px solid rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><table><tbody><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Title:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">Clockwork Angel</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Author:<br /></b></td> <td style="color: black;">Cassandra Clare</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Genre:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">YA, Steampunk</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Rating:<br /></b></td> <td style="color: black;">PG<br /><a href="http://ebooks.carinapress.com/71B876DF-61F8-4F1B-AA03-F218607B610D/10/134/en/Default.htm"> </a></td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Publisher:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">Margaret K. McElderry</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Release Date:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">August 31, 2010</td></tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Pages:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">476</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Source:</b></td><td style="color: black;">Finished Copy</td></tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>My Rating:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">4*</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7171637-clockwork-angel" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416975861/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=1416975861" target="_blank">Amazon</a>]</div></blockquote></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jqhFnRgghnc/TrBgwJFzOTI/AAAAAAAAAYE/LwRk-YWZ2nI/s1600/Synopsis.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jqhFnRgghnc/TrBgwJFzOTI/AAAAAAAAAYE/LwRk-YWZ2nI/s1600/Synopsis.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still. <br /><br />When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos. <br /><br />Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own. <br /><br />Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3n5c1Cw97wg/TrBiByYav-I/AAAAAAAAAYM/E6ro8PF46eU/s1600/Trailer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3n5c1Cw97wg/TrBiByYav-I/AAAAAAAAAYM/E6ro8PF46eU/s1600/Trailer.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/6SOxzLY2OpA?feature=player_embedded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FBGnh3g9bUs/TrBid6JvFEI/AAAAAAAAAYU/-SnIkGfrG4E/s1600/Quotes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FBGnh3g9bUs/TrBid6JvFEI/AAAAAAAAAYU/-SnIkGfrG4E/s1600/Quotes.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border: 1px solid rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<i>&nbsp;</i>&nbsp; &nbsp;"He'll get better," Jessamine announced. &nbsp;"And when he does, he'll know I'm the one who nursed him back to health. &nbsp;Men always fall in love with the woman who nurses them back to health. &nbsp;'When pain and anguish wring the brow, | A ministering angel thou!'" she finished, with a self-satisfied smirk. &nbsp;Seeing Tessa's horrified look, she scowled. &nbsp;"What's wrong? &nbsp;Am I not good enough for your previous brother?" &nbsp;&nbsp;</blockquote><br /><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border: 1px solid rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The Dark Sisters were there, leering at me from behind their whist cards, their nails like talons. &nbsp;Women with their faces and shoulders powdered white smiled at me with blood running out the corners of their mouths. &nbsp;Little creatures whose eyes changed color scuttled across the floor. &nbsp;I had never imagined such things were real, and I said as much to Mortmain.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;'"There are more things in Heaven and earth, Nathaniel. than are dreamt of in your philosophy,' he said.</blockquote><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnu5f--f5AY/TrBinGcQsjI/AAAAAAAAAYc/PsVH2V6scWo/s1600/MyThoughts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnu5f--f5AY/TrBinGcQsjI/AAAAAAAAAYc/PsVH2V6scWo/s1600/MyThoughts.png" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I think I should give you fair warning that at the time I decided to read this book I had already marked some of Cassandra Clare’s other work, namely the Mortal Instruments Series, as DNF.&nbsp; As a result I was very hesitant to even begin any of the books in the Infernal Devices series.&nbsp; In the end, I was convinced to give it a try by some of my fellow Ontario Blog Squad members and I am very glad that they did.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For me the first half of the book was a whole lot of nothing.&nbsp; Well, maybe not nothing, but not a lot happened.&nbsp; It was all talk and getting to know the characters, but really very little action.&nbsp; While I did like having the opportunity to really learn about the characters, it was hard holding my attention when I just wanted something to happen.&nbsp; I do have to say that when the action started, it pretty much didn’t stop.&nbsp; It wasn’t over the top gory incidents either.&nbsp; I didn’t get the feeling that the events taking place weren’t realistic for the story, but rather they seamlessly fit right in.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While I did enjoy the book, I can’t say that I was really fond of a lot of the characters.&nbsp; Tessa annoyed me for some reason.&nbsp; Maybe it was her dependence on others, or her inability to see things clearly that drove me nuts.&nbsp; Was she a product of her environment and times?&nbsp; Yes!&nbsp; Does that mean I should make allowances for her character?&nbsp; Probably.&nbsp; Did she still annoy me anyway?&nbsp; Absolutely! And that was the best part.&nbsp; As annoying as she was, she was authentic to the times, her upbringing and her character.&nbsp; I really did not like Will, but he too was authentic.&nbsp; What I don’t understand is this need for the main male character in every YA book to be a borderline douche.&nbsp; Jem on the other hand came across as a very likeable, albeit, tragic character.&nbsp; Jess made me want to light myself on fire every time she appeared in the story.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">There was something about the setting for this series that just worked for me.&nbsp; The setting of Victorian London was spot on and had me believing in the world of Shadowhunters, Demons and the like. &nbsp;Something about London during that time period comes across as a lot more believable than the backdrop of New York City that we find in The Mortal Instruments.&nbsp; What we know of London during that time due to historical record lends a great bit of credibility to this kind of world within a world that Cassandra Clare has created.&nbsp; London, as described in Clockwork Angel, is a cross between being seedy and posh and it is that dichotomy that makes the story work so well.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div>Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-12945666207282152102011-11-16T06:00:00.000-05:002011-11-16T06:43:36.488-05:00Waiting on Wednesday #16:Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at <a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Breaking the Spine</a>. Basically, it’s a chance to highlight one of the many books that you want to read but hasn’t been released just yet.<br /><br />My Waiting on Wednesday pick for this week is…<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AtPm0XyWSM8/TsLV6_j3LHI/AAAAAAAAAc8/dh94FK16dSE/s1600/11737266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AtPm0XyWSM8/TsLV6_j3LHI/AAAAAAAAAc8/dh94FK16dSE/s320/11737266.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><b>Title:</b> Amelia Anne Is Dead And Gone<br /><b>Author:</b> Kat Rosenfield<br /><b>Publisher:</b> Penguin Group<br /><b>Publication Date:</b> May 10, 2012<br /><br /><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border: 1px solid rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;">On the night of Becca’s high school graduation, the discovery of an unidentified dead girl left to bleed out on the side of a dirt road sends the town—and Becca—into a tailspin. Becca has always longed to break free from her small home town, but as the violence of the outside world creeps into her backyard, she withdraws and retreats inward, paralyzed for the first time in her life.<br /><br />Short chapters detailing the last days of Amelia Anne Richardson’s life are intercut with Becca’s own coming-of-age summer, unfolding into the parallel stories of two young women struggling with self-identity and tense romantic relationships as the summer’s tumultuous events twist Becca closer and closer to the truth about Amelia’s murder.</blockquote><br />How amazing does that sound? Not to mention, I am in love with the cover.<br /><br />What is your Waiting on Wednesday pick this week?Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-85549441146298014912011-11-14T17:39:00.003-05:002011-11-18T11:33:18.793-05:002012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tLbH1fd-oMQ/TsGKrP_gN4I/AAAAAAAAAc0/6AlT5n92neU/s1600/bannner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tLbH1fd-oMQ/TsGKrP_gN4I/AAAAAAAAAc0/6AlT5n92neU/s400/bannner.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />Hey everyone!&nbsp; Welcome to the 2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge!<br /><br />Now I know we all have massive TBR piles that just keep getting larger and larger.&nbsp; Personally, mine wouldn't be so large if I could manage to stay out of a bookstore for more than 2 days.&nbsp; It always seems like I have to have a book right then, but then of course it sits on my shelf unread and collecting dust.<br /><br />Well in 2012 I am participating in and hosting the 2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge!<br /><br />Challenge Guidelines:<br /><br /><ol><li>This challenge will run from <b>Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012</b>.</li><li>As we would like to see quality reviews linked up to our monthly wrap-ups, only <b>bloggers can ente</b>r. Sorry about that!</li><li>Any genre, length or format of book counts, as long as it is a book that's been sitting on your shelf for some time now. <b>Only books released in 2011 and earlier! NO ARCs and 2012 fresh-off-the-press releases allowed!</b><br /></li><li>You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.</li><li>When you sign up in the linky, <b>put the direct link to your post about joining the 2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge</b> (You need to include the info + host list + challenge button. You can also grab the button code and add it to your sidebar!)<br /></li><li>You can move up levels, but no moving down. </li><li>Sign-ups will be open until <b>Dec 15, 2012</b>, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.</li><li>At the end of each month one of the hosts will post a<b> wrap-up</b>. Every wrap-up will have it's <b>unique theme</b>, a <b>mini-challenge</b>, a <b>giveaway</b> and <b>place for you to link up your reviews from this month</b>. <u>For each review you link up, you will get one entry in a drawing of one book of choice from Book Depository. It's open to INTERNATIONALS. For participating in the mini-challenge you'll get +1 entry in the giveaway.</u><br /></li><li>If you miss a wrap-up post + giveaway, you can link up your reviews next month. <b>Do not, however, try to link up one review twice</b> - we will be checking ;) </li><li><b>December is a wrap-up for the whole year</b>. All the book reviews you linked up January-November + the ones you'll link up in December will be entered into a HUGE giveaway - 12 books, 12 winners, INTERNATIONAL.&nbsp;</li><li>You don't have to follow all the hosts to join the challenge, but you do have to follow all of us to be entered in giveaways!</li></ol>Levels:<br />1-10 - A Firm Handshake<br />11-20 - A Friendly Hug<br />21-30 - A Sweet Kiss<br />31-40 - Love At First Sight<br />41-50 - Married With Children<br /><br /><br />Hosts:<br /><br /><b>Evie </b>from <b>Bookish - </b><a href="http://www.evie-bookish.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://www.evie-bookish.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com</a> @SeoEvie<br /><b>Nicole</b> from <b>All I Ever Read</b> - <a href="http://www.nicoleabouttown.com/" target="_blank">http://www.nicoleabouttown.<wbr></wbr>com/</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/Nicoleabouttown" target="_blank" title="Nicole">@Nicoleabouttown</a><br /><b>Bonnie</b> from <b>Hands and Home</b> - <a href="http://www.handsandhome.ca/" target="_blank">http://www.handsandhome.ca/</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/HandsHomeBlog" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><s>@</s><b>HandsHomeBlog</b></a><br /><b>Donna </b>from <b>Book Passion For Life </b>- <a href="http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://bookpassionforlife.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a> <b>@<a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/BookPforLife" target="_blank" title="Book Passion 4 Life ">BookPforLife</a></b><br /><b>Caitlin </b>from <b>WatchYA Reading </b>- <a href="http://whatchyareading.net/" target="_blank">http://whatchyareading.net</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/caitlingss" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><s>@</s><b>caitlingss</b></a><br /><b>Rie </b>from <b>Mission To Read </b>- <a href="http://missiontoread.com/" target="_blank">http://missiontoread.com/</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/missiontoread" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><s>@</s><b>missiontoread</b></a><br /><b>Vicky </b>from <b>Books, Biscuits &amp; Tea </b>-<a href="http://booksbiscuitsandtea.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://booksbiscuitsandtea.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/alouetteuette" target="_blank" title="vicky ♔">@alouetteuette</a> <br /><b>Christa </b>from <b>Hooked On Books </b>- <a href="http://christashookedonbooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://christashookedonbooks.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/ChristasBooks" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><s>@</s><b>ChristasBooks</b></a><br /><b>Jenna </b>from <b>Fans Of Fiction </b>- <a href="http://fansoffiction.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://fansoffiction.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/</a> <b>@<a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/fansoffiction" target="_blank" title="Jenna Klein">fansoffiction</a></b><br /><b>Angel </b>from <b>Mermaids Vision </b>- <a href="http://mermaidvision.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">http://mermaidvision.<wbr></wbr>wordpress.com</a> <b><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/mermaidvisions" target="_blank"><b>@mermaidvisions</b></a></b><br /><br />Schedule:<br /><br />January - <b>Donna </b>(Theme: Let It Snow + Book Cover Challenge)<br />February - <b>Nicole</b> (Theme: Un-requited Love/Love Gone Wrong + Advice Column Challenge)<br />March - <b>Rie</b> (Theme: Green or Pinched + Green Cover Challenge)<br />April -&nbsp; <b>Bonnie</b> (Theme: Easter + Mini Challenge)<br />May - <b>Christa</b> (Theme: MayDay - Disaster Books! + Cover Disaster Challenge)<br />June - <b>Jenna</b> ( Theme: Camping + Sentence Challenge)<br />July - <b>Rie</b> (Theme: International Day + Cover Comparison Challenge)<br />August - <b>Angel</b> (Theme: Summer Memories + Send Your Fav Character On Vacation Challenge)<br />September - <b>Nicole</b> (Theme: Life Changing Books + Mini Challenge)<br />October - <b>Caitlin</b> (Theme: Thanksgiving Theme + Share-A-Book Challenge)<br />November - <b>Vicky</b> (Theme: Spooky Halloween + Book Puzzle Challenge)<br />December - <b>Evie</b> (Theme: Xmas Bliss + Book Bachelor Challenge)<br /><br /><br />Be sure to grab the button and sign up for the challenge below!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.nicoleabouttown.com/2011/11/2012-tbr-pile-reading-challenge.html" target="_blank" title="2012TBRPILEChallenge"><img alt="2012TBRPILEChallenge" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ULiNSADK35M/TsAmvDkki1I/AAAAAAAACnA/GoduRwvOGZo/s1600/2012-TBR-Reading-Challenge-Button.png" /></a><center><br /></center><br /><center><textarea id="code-source" name="code-source" rows="3">&lt;center&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.nicoleabouttown.com/2011/11/2012-tbr-pile-reading-challenge.html"&gt;&lt;img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ULiNSADK35M/TsAmvDkki1I/AAAAAAAACnA/GoduRwvOGZo/s1600/2012-TBR-Reading-Challenge-Button.png" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/center&gt;</textarea></center><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Quite honestly, I have so many books in my TBR pile that just thinking about them all make me a bit dizzy. I will put up a list of books I plan to tackle as part of my challenge around Christmas!</div><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"> document.write('<script type="text/javascript" src=http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=100686&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script><br /><br /><br /><br /></center>Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-72745722626277843642011-11-14T00:01:00.012-05:002011-11-20T21:03:14.367-05:00Giveaway! Triangles by Ellen Hopkins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hey everyone! &nbsp;By now you all know just how much I loved Ellen Hopkin's new adult book Triangles. &nbsp;In case you forgot, you can check out my review <a href="http://www.nicoleabouttown.com/2011/11/review-triangles-by-ellen-hopkins.html" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">here</a>! &nbsp;You can also check out the awesome interview I did with Ellen <a href="http://www.nicoleabouttown.com/2011/11/author-interview-ellen-hopkins.html" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">here</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: left;">!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It now gets even better. &nbsp;The absolutely amazing people over at Atria Books would love for you to have the opportunity to win a copy of this fabulous book for your own! &nbsp;How cool is that?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7uIRd6uOkSw/TqYoB3_u7CI/AAAAAAAAAQg/ZJoVrzNiaIw/s1600/10843755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7uIRd6uOkSw/TqYoB3_u7CI/AAAAAAAAAQg/ZJoVrzNiaIw/s320/10843755.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><b>Title:</b> Triangles<br /><b>Author:</b> Ellen Hopkins<br /><b>Publication Date:</b> October 18, 2011<br /><b>Publisher:</b> Atria Books<br /><br />THREE FEMALE FRIENDS FACE MIDLIFE CRISES IN A NO-HOLDS-BARRED EXPLORATION OF SEX, MARRIAGE, AND THE FRAGILITY OF LIFE.<br /><br />Holly: Filled with regret for being a stay-at-home mom, she sheds sixty pounds and loses herself in the world of extramarital sex. Will it bring the fulfillment she is searching for?<br /><br />Andrea: A single mom and avowed celibate, she watches her friend Holly’s meltdown with a mixture of concern and contempt. Holly is throwing away what Andrea has spent her whole life searching for—a committed relationship with a decent guy. So what if Andrea picks up Holly’s castaway husband?<br /><br />Marissa: She has more than her fair share of challenges—a gay, rebellious teenage son, a terminally ill daughter, and a husband who buries himself in his work rather than face the facts.<br /><br />As one woman’s marriage unravels, another’s rekindles. As one woman’s family comes apart at the seams, another’s reconfigures into something bigger and better. In this story of connections and disconnections, one woman’s up is another one’s down, and all of them will learn the meaning of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness.<br /><br />Unflinchingly honest, emotionally powerful, surprisingly erotic, Triangles is the ultimate page-turner. Hopkins’s gorgeous, expertly honed poetic verse perfectly captures the inner lives of her characters. Sometimes it happens like that. Sometimes you just get lost.<br /><br />Get lost in the world of Triangles, where the lives of three unforgettable women intersect, and where there are no easy answers.<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />This contest will run from <b>12:01 am November 14, 2011 - &nbsp;12:01 am on November 21, 2011</b>. &nbsp;You will have a chance to win one of four copies of Triangles by Ellen Hopkins courtesy of Atria Books. &nbsp;This giveaway is only open to <b>residents of the US and Canada</b>. <br /><br />Winners will be notified within 24 hours of the contest closing and will have 48 hours to respond in order to claim their prize!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Good Luck!</b></span></div><script id="rafl-script" type="text/javascript">RafflecopterSettings = { raffleID: 'NzlkZjJhNmRhZDMwZTY5YjI3NmYwZTY3OTQzNTYwOjM=' };</script><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="https://rafflecopter.ssl.dotcloud.com/static/js/widget/rafl-widget.js"></script><br /><noscript><a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js">You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.</noscript>Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com6Toronto, ON M2J, Canada43.7785175 -79.3465557000000143.7622815 -79.37584720000001 43.7947535 -79.317264200000011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-6007503263186919022011-11-13T21:49:00.001-05:002011-11-14T10:40:47.608-05:00Debut Author Challenge 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cRd_RXOOiGo/TsB97FYimDI/AAAAAAAAAcs/WRzlXdhJUHA/s1600/DACgraphic12-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cRd_RXOOiGo/TsB97FYimDI/AAAAAAAAAcs/WRzlXdhJUHA/s1600/DACgraphic12-06.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So once again Kristi over at <a href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/" target="_blank">The Story Siren</a> is running the Debut Author Challenge for 2012. &nbsp;I think this is the fourth-year running now! &nbsp;Kudos to Kristi cause that is an awesome feat as it seems to grow every year. &nbsp;This will be my first year participating and I am pretty excited! &nbsp;I am not even gonna lie, I have a pretty long list to get through but I'm pretty confident I can do it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Books on my challenge list:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ol><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11388429-when-the-sea-is-rising-red" target="_blank">When the Sea is Rising Red </a>- Cat Hellisen</li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12294652-my-life-next-door" target="_blank">My Life Next Door</a> - Huntley Fitzpatrick</li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11737311-the-treachery-of-beautiful-things" target="_blank">The Treachery of Beautiful Things</a> - Ruth Frances Long</li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9413044-everneath" target="_blank">Everneath</a> - Brodi Ashton</li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9565548-grave-mercy" target="_blank">Grave Mercy</a> - R.L. LaFevers</li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11782168-this-one-time-with-julia" target="_blank">This One Time With Julia</a> - David Lampson</li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10479750-lies-beneath" target="_blank">Lies Beneath</a> - Anne Greenwood Brown</li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12952710-gilt" target="_blank">Gilt</a> - Katherine Longshore</li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11788123-cross-my-heart" target="_blank">Cross My Heart</a> - Sasha Gould</li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8419647-never-eighteen" target="_blank">Never Eighteen</a> - Megan Bostic</li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11387392-the-catastrophic-history-of-you-and-me" target="_blank">The Catastrophic History of You and Me</a> - Jess Rothenberg</li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11699182-trafficked" target="_blank">Trafficked</a> - Kim Purcell</li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9554790-the-other-life" target="_blank">The Other Life</a> - Susanne Winnacker</li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10822395-touched" target="_blank">Touched </a>- Corrine Jackson</li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11979909-the-girls-of-no-return" target="_blank">The Girls of No Return</a> - Erin Saldin</li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12022733-wrecked" target="_blank">Wrecked</a> - Anna Davies</li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12425532-of-poseidon" target="_blank">Of Poseidon</a> - Anna Banks</li><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12213758-illuminate" target="_blank">Illuminate</a> - Aimee Agresti</li></ol><div>So that is what is on my list as of right now. &nbsp;Notice I didn't include Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood? &nbsp;I already read it so it doesn't count *insert sad face*! &nbsp;I'll probably keep adding to this list as the year goes by.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>What about you? &nbsp;What books are on your challenge list this year?</div>Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-42324914423715772032011-11-12T21:44:00.001-05:002011-11-13T08:26:46.254-05:00In My Mailbox #26 November 6 - 12, 2011 Edition!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-96H0p6CDZQg/TmwYwdFMMgI/AAAAAAAAAHs/hMYzys26XHw/s1600/In-My-Mailbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-96H0p6CDZQg/TmwYwdFMMgI/AAAAAAAAAHs/hMYzys26XHw/s320/In-My-Mailbox.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren.<br /><br />The purpose of the meme is to highlight books that you have received in your mailbox over the past week. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J94Gyewagh8/Tr8qC7q_H9I/AAAAAAAAAck/a3Le6HbN96Y/s1600/40d794fa0d8b11e180c9123138016265_7+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J94Gyewagh8/Tr8qC7q_H9I/AAAAAAAAAck/a3Le6HbN96Y/s320/40d794fa0d8b11e180c9123138016265_7+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Prophecy of the Sisters - Michelle Zink [<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5271066-prophecy-of-the-sisters" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Guardian of the Gate - Michelle Zink&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6682769-guardian-of-the-gate" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Soul Screamer's Volume 1 - Rachel K. Vincent&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11569419-soul-screamers-vol-1" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Unwritten Rule - Elizabeth Scott&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9441686-the-unwritten-rule" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Kingdom of Childhood - Rebecca Coleman&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10755636-the-kingdom-of-childhood" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Tenth Chamber - Glenn Cooper&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7858126-the-tenth-chamber" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Wordy Shipmates - Sarah Vowell&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2845287-the-wordy-shipmates" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Three Weeks in December - Audrey Schulman&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12359323-three-weeks-in-december" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Belles - Jen Calonita&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12814519-belles" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Partly Cloudy Patriot - Sarah Vowell&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52703.The_Partly_Cloudy_Patriot" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Boy Recession - Flynn Meaney&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12055999-the-boy-recession" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I picked up books 1 &amp; 2 in the Prophecy of the Sisters series by Michelle Zink. &nbsp;I am going to hold off on picking up book 3 till it's out in paperback. &nbsp;I also picked up the Soul Screamers vol. 1, The Unwritten Rule, The Kingdom of Childhood, and The Tenth Chamber. &nbsp;I also picked up a copy of The Wordy Shipmates for $5.00! &nbsp;Even better, it was 15% off so it only came up to like $3 something. &nbsp;I also picked up another copy of The Partly Cloudy Patriot. &nbsp;It is one of my favourite books of all time. &nbsp;I mean how could I not like a book that has an essay called 'God Will Give You Blood to Drink in a Souvenir Shot Glass'? &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also got a copy of Belles by Jen Calonita and The Boy Recession by Flynn Meaney from Hachette Book Group. &nbsp;Three Weeks in December by Audrey Schulman arrived this week courtesy of Europa Editions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What did you get in your mailbox this week?</div>Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-59172521241029879832011-11-10T13:35:00.002-05:002011-12-03T23:27:11.879-05:00Review: Lie by Caroline Bock<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tHLgL48IcnU/TqYqJ9mdgqI/AAAAAAAAARA/_12EVHUGcQ4/s1600/10474322.jpgg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tHLgL48IcnU/TqYqJ9mdgqI/AAAAAAAAARA/_12EVHUGcQ4/s1600/10474322.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yp-jNjIpErU/TrBjVfTWX_I/AAAAAAAAAYs/LCkWZbrJqMI/s1600/Info.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yp-jNjIpErU/TrBjVfTWX_I/AAAAAAAAAYs/LCkWZbrJqMI/s1600/Info.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border: 1px solid rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><table><tbody><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Title:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">Lie</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Author:<br /></b></td> <td style="color: black;">Caroline Bock</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Genre:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">YA, Social Issues</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Rating:<br /></b></td> <td style="color: black;">PG-13</td></tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Publisher:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">St. Martin's Griffin</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Release Date:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">August 30, 2011</td></tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Pages:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">224</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Source:</b></td><td style="color: black;">Finished Copy</td></tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>My Rating:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">3.5*</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10474322-lie" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312668325/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0312668325" target="_blank">Amazon</a>]</div></blockquote></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jqhFnRgghnc/TrBgwJFzOTI/AAAAAAAAAYE/LwRk-YWZ2nI/s1600/Synopsis.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jqhFnRgghnc/TrBgwJFzOTI/AAAAAAAAAYE/LwRk-YWZ2nI/s1600/Synopsis.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b><i>Everybody knows, nobody’s talking. . . .</i></b></span><br /><div style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Seventeen-year-old Skylar Thompson is being questioned by the police. Her boyfriend, Jimmy, stands accused of brutally assaulting two young El Salvadoran immigrants from a neighboring town, and she’s the prime witness. Skylar is keeping quiet about what she’s seen, but how long can she keep it up?&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b><i>But Jimmy was her savior</i></b>. . . .</div><div style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">When her mother died, he was the only person who made her feel safe, protected from the world. But when she begins to appreciate the enormity of what has happened, especially when&nbsp;Carlos Cortez, one of the victims, steps up to demand justice, she starts to have second thoughts about protecting Jimmy. Jimmy’s accomplice, Sean, is facing his own moral quandary. He’s out on bail and has been offered a plea in exchange for testifying against Jimmy.</div><div style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b><i>The truth must be told. . . .</i></b></div><div style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Sean must decide whether or not to turn on his friend in order to save himself. But most important, both he and Skylar need to figure out why they would follow someone like Jimmy in the first place.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FBGnh3g9bUs/TrBid6JvFEI/AAAAAAAAAYU/-SnIkGfrG4E/s1600/Quotes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FBGnh3g9bUs/TrBid6JvFEI/AAAAAAAAAYU/-SnIkGfrG4E/s1600/Quotes.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border: 1px solid rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><blockquote class="tr_bq">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;He wasn't against legal immigration. I asked him how his family got here, or were they American Indians? &nbsp;He said that his mother's family owned farmland out on the South Fork going back to the 1700s. &nbsp;He said his family documents are in Dutch, which is who were in charge here before the English. &nbsp;I said good for him. &nbsp;You can give history lessons. &nbsp;My father's father lied about his age and came over steerage, on his knees the whole way. &nbsp;He was called the Big Swede. &nbsp;What about giving these people a chance?<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;He said they were stealing our jobs. &nbsp;I said they were doing job nobody else wanted.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"You want them living next door to you? &nbsp;Twenty, thirty, or more Mexicans jammed in a house together?"</blockquote></blockquote><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnu5f--f5AY/TrBinGcQsjI/AAAAAAAAAYc/PsVH2V6scWo/s1600/MyThoughts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnu5f--f5AY/TrBinGcQsjI/AAAAAAAAAYc/PsVH2V6scWo/s1600/MyThoughts.png" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">I had been waiting to read this book for some time.&nbsp; In fact, I think this book was one of my Waiting on Wednesday picks sometime back in May or June.&nbsp; Every time I went to the bookstore in hopes of acquiring this book, it never quite worked out and I finally just ordered it online sometime back in October.&nbsp; Of course as soon as I got it, I began reading it.&nbsp; Sad to say, I was disappointed.&nbsp; I was so disappointed in fact, that this book was originally classified as DNF on my shelf and after about 50 pages in, I put it down.&nbsp; Usually, when I classify a book as DNF, I don’t pick it up again.&nbsp; But for some reason, I decided to give this one a second chance.&nbsp; I can honestly say that I am glad that I did.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><i>Lie</i> is told from multiple POVs and as such you really get to hear the viewpoints of everyone in this particular community.&nbsp; The sad part is that all those POV’s really do mirror each other and still adhere to the line ‘everybody knows, but no one’s talking’.&nbsp; It’s really disturbing to see just how everyone lets the fact that the victims were Mexican and the perpetrators were white cloud their minds to the fact that a crime was committed, and that lives were put in danger.&nbsp; The really sad part is that <i>Lie</i>, even though fiction, mirrors events that have happened in real life.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">I have never been more disgusted with a character than I was with Skylar.&nbsp; She uses her loss as a way to make her apathetic to the suffering of anyone else.&nbsp; The fact that she has gone through a loss should have made her appreciate life so much more.&nbsp; Instead she has this pity me, poor me attitude that leads her to rely on the very racist Jimmy for absolutely everything.&nbsp; For Skylar, I really didn’t see the struggle between right and wrong.&nbsp; She clearly couldn’t tell the difference if it slapped her upside the head.&nbsp; The sad thing is that she was not alone in that viewpoint.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Don’t get me wrong, I knew that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lie</i> wasn’t going to be a book about fluffy bunnies and as such was likely going to provoke some intense reactions.&nbsp; I was expecting outrage, frustration and maybe even a little sadness and anger.&nbsp; What I was not prepared for was the absolute rage and disgust I felt while reading this book.&nbsp; The tag line of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lie</i> is ‘everybody knows, nobody’s talking’ and that one line should be enough to set anyone’s teeth on edge.&nbsp; The fact that <i>Lie</i> is a book based around a hate crime, ‘everybody knows, nobody’s talking’ should outrage and disgust you.</div></div>Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-76817309710748276912011-11-06T20:08:00.000-05:002011-11-06T20:08:23.426-05:00Ontario Blog Squad Meet Up!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-05wq4NiAo90/TrcmmtoriXI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/Ih3N7NYV7vc/s1600/OntarioBlogSquadBanner2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="71" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-05wq4NiAo90/TrcmmtoriXI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/Ih3N7NYV7vc/s320/OntarioBlogSquadBanner2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />So by now, most of you know that I am part of the Ontario Blog Squad. &nbsp;What you may not know is that not only am I am member, but I am also one of the organizers. &nbsp;About 2 months ago, 8 Toronto area bloggers set out to not only create a network of bloggers from all over the province, but to also arrange get togethers and other activities amongst our group. &nbsp;On Saturday, November 5, 2011, we held our first meet up at The Duke of York Pub in downtown Toronto.<br /><br />At about 10:30 am, <a href="http://www.everexpandinglibrary.com/" target="_blank">Jackie</a>, <a href="http://hefollowedmehome.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mel</a>, <a href="http://lil-library.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jen</a>, <a href="http://midnightbloomreads.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Liz</a>, <a href="http://mermaidvision.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Angel</a>, <a href="http://christashookedonbooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Christa</a>, <a href="http://mochalattereads.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Wendy</a> and I all headed over to my office. &nbsp;Why would we go to my office? &nbsp;Well that is where all of the goodies were stored. &nbsp;Early on in the planning process, we decided to reach out to the various Canadian publishing houses to see if they wanted to get involved. &nbsp;Can I just tell you that they were just amazing. &nbsp;<a href="http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_index.aspx?canada=Y" target="_blank">Hachette Book Group Canada</a>, <a href="http://www.harpercollins.ca/" target="_blank">Harper Collins Canada</a>,<a href="http://www.simonandschuster.ca/" target="_blank"> Simon &amp; Schuster Canada</a>, <a href="http://www.scholastic.ca/" target="_blank">Scholastic Canada</a>, <a href="http://www.penguin.ca/" target="_blank">Penguin Canada</a> and <a href="http://www.randomhouse.ca/" target="_blank">Random House Canada</a> all contributed goodies and books beyond any of our wildest expectations.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g_hD52brV8g/TrcpPPwTBFI/AAAAAAAAAaE/rwW0BsdVhHQ/s1600/Assembly+Line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g_hD52brV8g/TrcpPPwTBFI/AAAAAAAAAaE/rwW0BsdVhHQ/s320/Assembly+Line.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Assembly Line of Doom! &nbsp;Provided by Random House Canada<br />and filled with goodies from all publishers</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vexfEpx81dE/TrcpYxnBpVI/AAAAAAAAAaM/WUyGsHlnABQ/s1600/Hachette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vexfEpx81dE/TrcpYxnBpVI/AAAAAAAAAaM/WUyGsHlnABQ/s320/Hachette.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodies from Hachette Book Group Canada!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_o6WiUBZPok/TrcphzPrkfI/AAAAAAAAAaU/FJVwZFzjrhI/s1600/Harper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_o6WiUBZPok/TrcphzPrkfI/AAAAAAAAAaU/FJVwZFzjrhI/s320/Harper.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Contributions from Harper Collins Canada with handwritten<br />notes from Shannon!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gAeMT38VPQs/TrcpswUcCLI/AAAAAAAAAac/P1bq3ySnDX8/s1600/S%2526S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gAeMT38VPQs/TrcpswUcCLI/AAAAAAAAAac/P1bq3ySnDX8/s320/S%2526S.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copies of Fever from Simon &amp; Schuster. &nbsp;They are like 3 deep<br />in the cabinet!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--OWzh-NNqCs/Trcp2QAcL1I/AAAAAAAAAak/6eudVYXgB_8/s1600/Scholastic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--OWzh-NNqCs/Trcp2QAcL1I/AAAAAAAAAak/6eudVYXgB_8/s320/Scholastic.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished Copies from Scholastic Canada!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JHlP1NpK8Hc/TrcqBfqxIvI/AAAAAAAAAas/nN-3SV8wFQg/s1600/photo-13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JHlP1NpK8Hc/TrcqBfqxIvI/AAAAAAAAAas/nN-3SV8wFQg/s320/photo-13.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ARC's and T-Shirts from Penguin Canada!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AQiSl7K2Z38/TrcqJS5EZ6I/AAAAAAAAAa0/LUrweolnKe4/s1600/Raffle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AQiSl7K2Z38/TrcqJS5EZ6I/AAAAAAAAAa0/LUrweolnKe4/s320/Raffle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodies for the raffle and online giveaways!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XsqGmOsSazc/TrcqTrhVbgI/AAAAAAAAAa8/F8AoUWI5YCk/s1600/photo-7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XsqGmOsSazc/TrcqTrhVbgI/AAAAAAAAAa8/F8AoUWI5YCk/s320/photo-7.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mug from Random House Canada. &nbsp;I confess, I am kind of<br />obsessed with it.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xj2Axpa2Pjc/TrcqYcc5aRI/AAAAAAAAAbE/hb3T5LBn2n4/s1600/Kobo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xj2Axpa2Pjc/TrcqYcc5aRI/AAAAAAAAAbE/hb3T5LBn2n4/s320/Kobo.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodies provided by Kobo!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We also raffled off various prizes and hold a trivia contest. &nbsp;<a href="http://www.kobobooks.com/" target="_blank">Kobo</a> graciously provided some goodies along with our grand prize - a Kobo Touch E-Reader!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PeQQudgGVeQ/TrcqeEazK7I/AAAAAAAAAbM/505xJFRVyx4/s1600/Group+Shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PeQQudgGVeQ/TrcqeEazK7I/AAAAAAAAAbM/505xJFRVyx4/s320/Group+Shot.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Organizer Group Shot.<br />Liz, Wendy, Christa, Mel, Jen, Jackie, Me &amp; Angel!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I would like to thank everyone for coming out. &nbsp;Hopefully this is only the first of many meet ups! &nbsp;If you didn't get the chance to attend, have no fear. &nbsp;We will be conducting some giveaways on the <a href="http://ontarioblogsquad.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blog</a> in the coming weeks.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CWAsm4dThX8/TrMFcTpuaqI/AAAAAAAAAZc/hUrQOW49eyQ/s1600/Nicole.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CWAsm4dThX8/TrMFcTpuaqI/AAAAAAAAAZc/hUrQOW49eyQ/s1600/Nicole.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-42795543242293331122011-11-06T00:02:00.006-04:002011-11-06T18:30:09.206-05:00In My Mailbox #25: October 30 - November 5, 2011 Edition!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-96H0p6CDZQg/TmwYwdFMMgI/AAAAAAAAAHs/hMYzys26XHw/s1600/In-My-Mailbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-96H0p6CDZQg/TmwYwdFMMgI/AAAAAAAAAHs/hMYzys26XHw/s320/In-My-Mailbox.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren.<br /><br />The purpose of the meme is to highlight books that you have received in your mailbox over the past week. <br /><br />So today we had the epic Ontario Blog Squad meetup. &nbsp;It was so much fun and we had 38 attendee's. &nbsp;Each attendee was given a bag full of swag. &nbsp;This swag bag makes along with some other stuff I won, randomly received and bought is what makes up my mailbox this week!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ftdTKkwxzY8/TrYCOZPUDsI/AAAAAAAAAZs/S3JRrNk61hI/s1600/696c9ae6082711e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ftdTKkwxzY8/TrYCOZPUDsI/AAAAAAAAAZs/S3JRrNk61hI/s400/696c9ae6082711e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10808965-a-temptation-of-angels" target="_blank">A Temptation of Angels</a> - Michelle Zink&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11112619-fever" target="_blank">Fever</a> - Lauren DeStefano</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7949011-everything-we-ever-wanted" target="_blank">Everything We Ever Wanted</a> - Sara Sheppard</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10950220-the-little-book-of-perfumes" target="_blank">The Little Book of Perfumes</a>&nbsp;- Luca Turin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9593911-pandemonium" target="_blank">Pandemonium</a> - Lauren Oliver</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9413044-everneath" target="_blank">Everneath</a> - Brodi Ashton</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9760891-spell-bound" target="_blank">Spell Bound</a> - Kelley Armstrong</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7912609-the-gilly-salt-sisters" target="_blank">The Gilly Salt Sisters</a> - Tiffany Parker</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10025305-clockwork-prince" target="_blank">Clockwork Prince</a> - Cassandra Claire</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10626594-the-scorpio-races" target="_blank">The Scorpio Races</a> - Maggie Stiefvater</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8603925-your-voice-in-my-head" target="_blank">Your Voice in My Head</a> - Emma Forrest</div><br />Huge thanks to Hachette Book Group Canada, Random House Canada, Harper Collins Canada, Scholastic Canada and Simon &amp; Schuster Canada for contributing to the swag bag of awesome. &nbsp;I also have to thank Jen from <a href="http://lil-library.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Lost in the Library</a> for the copy of Everything We Ever Wanted and Gabrielle from Penguin USA (Viking Books) for the copy of The Little Book of Perfumes. &nbsp;Thanks to Jen from <a href="http://raymentsreadingsrantsandramblings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Rayment's Readings, Rants and Ramblings</a> for the copy of Clockwork Prince. Thanks to my cousin Michelle for dropping some books off as well!<br /><br />What did you get in your mailbox?Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-87742585920261171682011-11-02T10:19:00.001-04:002011-11-02T13:29:09.884-04:00Guest Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zr4riWExu_U/TqYo1jgkbaI/AAAAAAAAAQw/SFXjYFLA61M/s1600/10429045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zr4riWExu_U/TqYo1jgkbaI/AAAAAAAAAQw/SFXjYFLA61M/s320/10429045.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yp-jNjIpErU/TrBjVfTWX_I/AAAAAAAAAYs/LCkWZbrJqMI/s1600/Info.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yp-jNjIpErU/TrBjVfTWX_I/AAAAAAAAAYs/LCkWZbrJqMI/s1600/Info.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border: 3px dashed rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><table><tbody><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Title:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">Shatter Me</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Author:<br /></b></td> <td style="color: black;">Tahereh Mafi</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Genre:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">YA, Dystopian</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Rating:<br /></b></td> <td style="color: black;">PG<br /><a href="http://ebooks.carinapress.com/71B876DF-61F8-4F1B-AA03-F218607B610D/10/134/en/Default.htm"> </a></td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Publisher:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">HarperTEEN</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Release Date:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">November 15, 2011</td></tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Pages:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">342</td> </tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>Source:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">ARC from Publisher</td></tr><tr> <td style="color: black;"><b>My Rating:</b></td> <td style="color: black;">4.5 Stars</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10429045-shatter-me" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062085484/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0062085484" target="_blank">Amazon</a>] </div></blockquote></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jqhFnRgghnc/TrBgwJFzOTI/AAAAAAAAAYE/LwRk-YWZ2nI/s1600/Synopsis.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jqhFnRgghnc/TrBgwJFzOTI/AAAAAAAAAYE/LwRk-YWZ2nI/s1600/Synopsis.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. </div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3n5c1Cw97wg/TrBiByYav-I/AAAAAAAAAYM/E6ro8PF46eU/s1600/Trailer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3n5c1Cw97wg/TrBiByYav-I/AAAAAAAAAYM/E6ro8PF46eU/s1600/Trailer.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/UHApCwLkVU0?feature=player_embedded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FBGnh3g9bUs/TrBid6JvFEI/AAAAAAAAAYU/-SnIkGfrG4E/s1600/Quotes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FBGnh3g9bUs/TrBid6JvFEI/AAAAAAAAAYU/-SnIkGfrG4E/s1600/Quotes.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border: 3px dashed rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<i>&nbsp;</i>&nbsp; "Their fear will work in your favour," he whispers in my ear.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; My humanity is lying in a million pieces on this carpeted floor.&nbsp; "I never wanted them to be afraid of me."<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You should."&nbsp; He stops.&nbsp; His eyes are calling me an idiot.&nbsp; "If they don't fear you, they will hunt you."<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "People hunt things they fear all the time."<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "At least now they know what they're up against."&nbsp; He resumes walking down the hall, but my feet are stitched into the ground.</blockquote></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnu5f--f5AY/TrBinGcQsjI/AAAAAAAAAYc/PsVH2V6scWo/s1600/MyThoughts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnu5f--f5AY/TrBinGcQsjI/AAAAAAAAAYc/PsVH2V6scWo/s1600/MyThoughts.png" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Divergent, Delirium, The Hunger Games, and The Chaos Walking Trilogy are all great dystopian YA novels and all are equalled or surpassed by this debut novel by Tahereh Mafi. Mafi’s novel is a breathtaking work of art, her description on the fall of culture on page 60 left me in awe of this 23 year old writer's talent. (If you are hesitant to buy this novel after reading this review, flip to this page and bask in the eloquence… THEN buy the book.)&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The female protagonists in YA novels are often shy, awkward, and well…sappy. While Juliette starts off with all of these traits, Mafi introduces a new way to portray this. Juliette is censored (by herself) like this. As the book progresses, Juliette doubts herself less and less, and becomes a more confident and sexy woman. I doubt I am a part of the audience that Mafi intended her book for, but when I saw the synopsis compare it to the X-Men, well I couldn’t resist.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Guys and Girls of all ages will enjoy this book, I’ve recommended it to others, and will continue to do so. Girls, if you enjoyed the previously mentioned novels, read this. Guys, if you enjoyed watching X-men as a kid, read this. This book was great, and the sequel will be SO FREAKING INSANE!!! Oh… also… on an amazingly awesome note the book has been optioned by 20th Century Fox.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">P.S. You can read the first chapter on the Shatter Me Facebook page.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--vQdIR0Ltqg/TrBl-StIeMI/AAAAAAAAAY0/nlIC6rOOJqA/s1600/Liam.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--vQdIR0Ltqg/TrBl-StIeMI/AAAAAAAAAY0/nlIC6rOOJqA/s1600/Liam.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6r-PKbLHBTk/TrFLUM4iMCI/AAAAAAAAAZE/EWTiIXmJnF4/s1600/Epic+Save.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6r-PKbLHBTk/TrFLUM4iMCI/AAAAAAAAAZE/EWTiIXmJnF4/s200/Epic+Save.jpg" width="145" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M8GFB-RegCk/TrFRIPI29tI/AAAAAAAAAZM/0K6HxSmvJP0/s1600/AboutME.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M8GFB-RegCk/TrFRIPI29tI/AAAAAAAAAZM/0K6HxSmvJP0/s1600/AboutME.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border: 3px dashed rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;">I am a 24 yr old book lover. My room is a veritable library,&nbsp;albeit a messy one. I owe my love of literature to The Hardy Boys, though I quickly branched off into historical fiction which led to me currently reading just about anything.&nbsp;I attend Ryerson University and hate writing About Me blurbs. Also Neil Pasricha writer of The Book of Awesome says I'm awesome.<br /><br /></blockquote></div><br /></div></div>Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-89640815099771758922011-11-01T11:54:00.000-04:002011-11-01T11:54:41.190-04:00Author Interview: Ellen Hopkins - Triangles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7uIRd6uOkSw/TqYoB3_u7CI/AAAAAAAAAQg/ZJoVrzNiaIw/s1600/10843755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7uIRd6uOkSw/TqYoB3_u7CI/AAAAAAAAAQg/ZJoVrzNiaIw/s320/10843755.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><blockquote style="background-color: #faf8cc; border: 3px dashed rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;">Today my lovely readers, I have the honour of interviewing the New York Times Bestselling Author Ellen Hopkins. Ellen is the author of several Young Adult books and has just published her first book for adult readers. <i>Triangles</i> was released on October 18, 2011 and published by Atria Books. Today she stops by to talk a little bit about it.</blockquote></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote style="background-color: #fff380; border: 2px dotted rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><b style="color: black;">N:</b><span id="internal-source-marker_0.5951846589405387" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Can you tell us who or what inspired you to write Triangles?</span></blockquote><div><blockquote style="background-color: #ada96e; border: 2px dotted rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><b>EH:</b> Interestingly enough, the suggestion for a book about midlife crises came from a teen boy reader. I assume one or both of his parents was experiencing one (which also underlines the fact that all family members can be aware of and affected by them).</blockquote></div><br /><blockquote style="background-color: #fff380; border: 2px dotted rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><b style="color: black;">N:</b><span id="internal-source-marker_0.5951846589405387" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> What was your favourite chapter (or part) of Triangles to write and why?</span></blockquote><div><blockquote style="background-color: #ada96e; border: 2px dotted rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><b>EH:</b> Hard to choose one, but maybe the part where Marissa and her husband, Christian, go to Monterey for the weekend to try and rekindle their romance. My husband and I have spent several romantic weekends in Monterey/Big Sur, and if any place could inspire love, I think that's it.</blockquote></div><br /><blockquote style="background-color: #fff380; border: 2px dotted rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><b style="color: black;">N:</b><span id="internal-source-marker_0.5951846589405387" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Did you base any of the characters in Triangles on people from your own life? Why or why not?<br /></span></blockquote><div><blockquote style="background-color: #ada96e; border: 2px dotted rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><b>EH:</b> Holly and Marissa are both inspired by friends who hit huge turning points in their early forties. And there are little threads of me in all three women. Which, I guess, says I've got multiple personalities or something.</blockquote></div><br /><blockquote style="background-color: #fff380; border: 2px dotted rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><b style="color: black;">N:</b><span id="internal-source-marker_0.5951846589405387" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Is there a message that you want readers to take away after having read the book?<br /></span></blockquote><div><blockquote style="background-color: #ada96e; border: 2px dotted rgb(41, 36, 33)); padding: 8px;"><b>EH:</b> I think it's okay to question ourselves and our lives. To reevaluate when we must. It's natural. Smart. So don't worry when it happens to you. But choose your direction carefully, especially when kids are involved.</blockquote></div><br /><blockquote style="background-color: #fff380; border: 2px dotted rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><b style="color: black;">N:</b><span id="internal-source-marker_0.5951846589405387" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Was it always in your plan to move into adult books and essentially grow with your readers?<br /></span></blockquote><div><blockquote style="background-color: #ada96e; border: 2px dotted rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><b>EH:</b> My life has been a series of unfoldings, as a woman, and as a writer. I didn't plan to write teen fiction until the right story hit me, and it had to be YA. Then I discovered a talent for and love of writing YA. Neither did I plan to move into adult fiction until the right story hit me, and it had to be aimed at older readers. I feel fortunate that as my readers have grown they have continued to embrace my writing.</blockquote></div><br /><blockquote style="background-color: #fff380; border: 2px dotted rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><b style="color: black;">N:</b><span id="internal-source-marker_0.5951846589405387" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> When writing, do you plot our story or is it more of an organic process?<br /></span></blockquote><div><blockquote style="background-color: #ada96e; border: 2px dotted rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><b>EH: </b>I generally don't outline a book, but rather carefully craft characters, building their stories as I learn who they are, partially in the prewrite phase, but mostly letting them tell me which direction THEY would go as I write.</blockquote></div><br /><blockquote style="background-color: #fff380; border: 2px dotted rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><b style="color: black;">N:</b><span id="internal-source-marker_0.5951846589405387" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> What can readers expect next from you? Are you currently working on another book now?<br /></span></blockquote><div><blockquote style="background-color: #ada96e; border: 2px dotted rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><b>EH:</b> The next YA, TILT (Fall 2012), is a companion to TRIANGLES, focusing on three of the teens in that book. And I'm currently writing the next adult, COLLATERAL (Fall 2012), about deployment and what that means to those left behind. I've been researching the topic for months, including interviewing military families.</blockquote></div><br /><blockquote style="background-color: #fff380; border: 2px dotted rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><b style="color: black;">N:</b><span id="internal-source-marker_0.5951846589405387" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> If you had to recommend one book to another person, what would it be?<br /></span></blockquote><div><blockquote style="background-color: #ada96e; border: 2px dotted rgb(41, 36, 33); padding: 8px;"><b>EH:</b> ONE book? Wow. That's hard. Maybe WATER FOR ELEPHANTS.</blockquote></div><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br /><span id="goog_1282461322"></span><span id="goog_1282461323"></span>I would like to thank Ellen for stopping by and participating in the interview.&nbsp; You can order a copy of Triangles <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451626339/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=1451626339" target="_blank">here</a>!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BXcayNjLuxI/TrAGv_hrbyI/AAAAAAAAAXs/P5DYtsawGwU/s1600/ELLEN+HOPKINS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BXcayNjLuxI/TrAGv_hrbyI/AAAAAAAAAXs/P5DYtsawGwU/s320/ELLEN+HOPKINS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Be sure to connect with Ellen Hopkins online!<br /><br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.ellenhopkins.com/" target="_blank">Website</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/EllenHopkinsYA" target="_blank">Twitter</a></li><li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ellenhopkinsya" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li></ul>Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-89062503127860142652011-11-01T09:30:00.002-04:002011-11-01T11:05:16.428-04:00Review: Triangles by Ellen Hopkins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7uIRd6uOkSw/TqYoB3_u7CI/AAAAAAAAAQg/ZJoVrzNiaIw/s1600/10843755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7uIRd6uOkSw/TqYoB3_u7CI/AAAAAAAAAQg/ZJoVrzNiaIw/s320/10843755.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><b>Title:</b> Triangles<br /><b>Author:</b> Ellen Hopkins<br /><b>Genre:</b> Fiction &amp; Literature<br /><b>Rating:</b> PG<br /><b>Publisher:</b> Atria Books<br /><b>Release Date:</b> October 18, 2011<br /><b>Pages:</b> 544 Pages<br /><b>Source:</b> ARC provided by Publisher<br /><b>My Rating:</b> 4*<br /><br />[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10843755-triangles">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451626339/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=1451626339">Amazon</a>]<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis</b></span><br /><br />THREE FEMALE FRIENDS FACE MIDLIFE CRISES IN A NO-HOLDS-BARRED EXPLORATION OF SEX, MARRIAGE, AND THE FRAGILITY OF LIFE.<br /><br />Holly: Filled with regret for being a stay-at-home mom, she sheds sixty pounds and loses herself in the world of extramarital sex. Will it bring the fulfillment she is searching for?<br /><br />Andrea: A single mom and avowed celibate, she watches her friend Holly’s meltdown with a mixture of concern and contempt. Holly is throwing away what Andrea has spent her whole life searching for—a committed relationship with a decent guy. So what if Andrea picks up Holly’s castaway husband?<br /><br />Marissa: She has more than her fair share of challenges—a gay, rebellious teenage son, a terminally ill daughter, and a husband who buries himself in his work rather than face the facts.<br /><br />As one woman’s marriage unravels, another’s rekindles. As one woman’s family comes apart at the seams, another’s reconfigures into something bigger and better. In this story of connections and disconnections, one woman’s up is another one’s down, and all of them will learn the meaning of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness.<br /><br />Unflinchingly honest, emotionally powerful, surprisingly erotic, Triangles is the ultimate page-turner. Hopkins’s gorgeous, expertly honed poetic verse perfectly captures the inner lives of her characters. Sometimes it happens like that. Sometimes you just get lost.<br /><br />Get lost in the world of Triangles, where the lives of three unforgettable women intersect, and where there are no easy answers.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Quotes</b></span><br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>’Falling to pieces. That’s how my life feels. Fractured. Crushed. Disintegrating. And the weird thing is, it’s all because of that stupid little word: love. I’ve fallen in love with ..., and it’s tinting everything normal about me with shades of insanity.’ </i></blockquote><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Thoughts</b></span><br /><br />This was the first book by Ellen Hopkins that I have ever read.&nbsp; It was also my first time reading a book written in verse.&nbsp; When the opportunity came to participate in a blog tour for <i>Triangles</i> I absolutely jumped at the chance and I am glad that I did.<br /><i><br /></i><br /><i>Triangles</i> is an absolute roller coaster ride from beginning to end.&nbsp;&nbsp; Told from the various point's of view, <i>Triangles</i> is at times emotional, erotic, raw, honest and above all real.<br /><br />The stories of Holly, Marissa and Andrea are ones that are found in everyday life.&nbsp; A woman unfulfilled and unhappy in her marriage, a woman struggling to hold on to her family and herself in the face of overwhelming odds, and a woman simply searching for something more.&nbsp; All are stories that we hear about everyday, some of us, maybe experiencing for ourselves in some way shape or form.&nbsp; That, to me, is the mark of excellent writing and storytelling.&nbsp; The fact that it was done so well and in verse is a bonus.<br /><br />This is not a YA book, but fans of Ellen's YA readers who have grown up and matured with each novel written by Ellen Hopkins will find <i>Triangles</i> to be a welcome addition to their collection.<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BXcayNjLuxI/TrAGv_hrbyI/AAAAAAAAAXs/P5DYtsawGwU/s1600/ELLEN+HOPKINS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BXcayNjLuxI/TrAGv_hrbyI/AAAAAAAAAXs/P5DYtsawGwU/s320/ELLEN+HOPKINS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><u><b>About the Author</b></u><br />Ellen Hopkins is the New York Times bestselling author of Crank, Burned, Impulse, Glass, and Identical. She lives in Carson City, Nevada, with her husband and son. Hopkin's MySpace and Facebook pages get thousands of hits from teens who claim Hopkins is the "only one who understands me".<br /><br />Ellen's <a href="http://www.ellenhopkins.com/" target="_blank">Website</a><br />Ellen's <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ellenhopkinsya" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a><br />Ellen's <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/EllenHopkinsYA" target="_blank">Twitter Page</a></div><div>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />Be sure to visit the other stops on the Triangles blog tour!<br /><br />11/2/2011 <a href="http://www.reflectionswithcoffee.com/" target="_blank">Reflections with Coffee</a> <br />11/3/2011 <a href="http://tamingthebookshelf.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Taming the Bookshelf&nbsp; </a><br />11/4/2011 <a href="http://oodlesofbooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Oodles of Books</a> <br />11/5/2011 <a href="http://ravishingreads.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ravishing Reads</a> <br />11/7/2011 <a href="http://reviewfromhere.com/" target="_blank">Review from Here</a> <br />11/8/2011 <a href="http://proudbooknerd.com/" target="_blank">Proud Book Nerd</a> <br />11/9/2011 <a href="http://bookswarm.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> The Book Swarm&nbsp;</a> <br />11/10/2011 <a href="http://tiffanysbookshelf.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tiffany's Bookshelf</a> <br />11/11/2011 <a href="http://www.krittersramblings.com/" target="_blank">Kritters Ramblings</a> <br />11/13/2011 <a href="http://www.hippiesbeautyandbooksohmy.com/" target="_blank">Hippies, Beauty, and Books Oh My!</a> <br />11/15/2011 <a href="http://purplg8r-somanybooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">So Many Books, So Little Time</a> <br />11/16/2011 <a href="http://www.booksnob-booksnob.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Book Snob</a>&nbsp; <br />11/17/2011 <a href="http://readergirls.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Reader Girls</a>&nbsp; <br />11/18/2011 <a href="http://www.jhsiess.com/" target="_blank">Colloquium</a> <br /><br /></div>Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-30422991999535559512011-10-30T12:08:00.000-04:002011-10-30T12:08:55.610-04:00Review: Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cONDajRMYo0/TqtqfXuKdpI/AAAAAAAAAWI/dhn0AYnHpkA/s1600/6413444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cONDajRMYo0/TqtqfXuKdpI/AAAAAAAAAWI/dhn0AYnHpkA/s320/6413444.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><b>Title:</b> Living Dead Girl<br /><b>Author:</b> Elizabeth Scott<br /><b>Genre:</b> YA, Social Issues, Child Abuse<br /><b>Rating:</b> R<br /><b>Publisher:</b> Simon &amp; Schuster<br /><b>Publication Date:</b> September 2, 2008<br /><b>Pages:</b> 170<br /><b>Source:</b> Purchased Finished Copy<br /><b>My Rating:</b> 5*<br /><br />[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6413444-living-dead-girl">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416960600/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=1416960600">Amazon</a>]<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Synopsis</span></b><br /><br />The thing is, you can get used to anything. You think you can't, you want to die, but you don't. You won't. You just are. <br /><br />This is Alice. <br />She was taken by Ray five years ago. <br />She thought she knew how her story would end. <br />She was wrong.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Quotes</span></b><br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The audience always boos and says You Should Have Done Something. &nbsp;You should have fought back. &nbsp;You should have known no one has that kind of power. &nbsp;You should have been strong.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;You shouldn't have been so stupid.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The women nod and sniffle. &nbsp;They are still broken. &nbsp;They still agree with everything anyone wants. &nbsp;Even the ones who try to explain end up with their heads down, their hands in their laps. &nbsp;Little girl ready to say she's sorry.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;All our fault, always.</i></blockquote><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My Thoughts</span></b><br /><br />Let me start this review off by saying that I have a cast iron stomach. &nbsp;I also have a pretty warped sense of humor and I am not usually bothered by things that would make most people spend the rest of their lives on a psychiatrist's couch. <i>&nbsp;Living Dead Girl</i> by Elizabeth Scott disturbed me so much that it actually made me physically ill.<br /><br />I have read books about abuse and I have read books about child abuse. &nbsp;None of the other books I have read have have communicated the utter devastation, degradation and hopelessness that is demonstrated in <i>Living Dead Girl</i>. &nbsp;It's not enough to just say that Alice is a victim and to get glimpses of the abuse that she has and is suffering. <br /><br />What makes this story so profoundly disturbing is the insight into both the minds of Alice and her captor/abuser/tormentor Ray. &nbsp;To see that Alice knows that she is never going to get out of this, in the traditional sense of being rescued and going home, but rather that the only way out for her is death and to watch her accept and welcome this is absolutely horrifying.<br /><br />All I have to say is thank the lord that this book was only 170 pages long. &nbsp;I don't think I could have handled reading much more.<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fH73GMrz5oo/Tq1umGLXMoI/AAAAAAAAAXM/ICBEPvqDIGM/s1600/ElizabethScott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fH73GMrz5oo/Tq1umGLXMoI/AAAAAAAAAXM/ICBEPvqDIGM/s1600/ElizabethScott.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b><u>About the Author</u></b></div><div style="text-align: right;">Hey there, I'm Elizabeth. I write young adult novels. I live just outside Washington DC with my husband and dog, and am unable to pass a bookstore without stopping and going inside. <br /><br />All right, and I can't leave without buying at least one book. <br /><br />Usually two. (Or more!) <br /><br />Visit her <a href="http://www.elizabethwrites.com/">website</a>!</div>Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com3North York, ON, Canada43.7760786 -79.3363461999999843.775429599999995 -79.337437699999981 43.7767276 -79.335254699999979tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-17187841475146475872011-10-29T19:40:00.000-04:002011-10-29T19:40:15.319-04:00Review: Crossed by Ally Condie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2wwLdocOXt4/Tm1ED3b9mjI/AAAAAAAAAH4/NyicihHvjYk/s1600/9794437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2wwLdocOXt4/Tm1ED3b9mjI/AAAAAAAAAH4/NyicihHvjYk/s320/9794437.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><b>Title:</b> Crossed<br /><b>Author:</b> Ally Condie<br /><b>Genre:</b> YA, Dystopian<br /><b>Rating:</b> G<br /><b>Publisher:</b> Dutton Juvenile<br /><b>Publication Date:</b> November 1, 2011<br /><b>Pages:</b> 384<br /><b>Source:</b> ARC provided by Publisher<br /><b>My Rating:</b> 3*<br /><br />[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9794437-crossed">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0525423656/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0525423656">Amazon</a>]<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis</b></span><br /><br />In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.<br /><br />Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Quotes</b></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;I wonder if some of that longing came through in my voice when I spoke of the painting, if Xander noticed and remembered. &nbsp;Xander still plays the game in a subtle way. &nbsp;This painting is one of his cards. &nbsp;Now, when I see the painting or touch one of he newrose petals, I remember the way he felts so familiar and knew so much, and I ache for what I've had to let go.</blockquote><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>My Thoughts</b></span><br /><br />I really, really did not like <i>Matched</i>, but as a follow up <i>Crossed</i> was actually pretty decent. &nbsp;I ended up &nbsp;reading both books back to back so I was able to keep going with the story. &nbsp;As a result, I really can't help but compare the two books.<br /><br />I must say that I enjoyed the setting in <i>Matched</i> much more. &nbsp;For me, having the characters leave the city for the Outer Provinces lends credibility to the whole Dystopian aspect. &nbsp;I felt that it gave <i>Crossed</i> a sense of danger and excitement that I found was lacking in <i>Matched</i>. &nbsp;There were so many plot twists that I found myself unable to predict what was going to happen next; something that I greatly enjoyed.<br /><br />Once I got used to them, I loved the differing viewpoints. &nbsp;In my opinion, it really helped keep the story from revealing itself too soon. &nbsp;Plus it was really nice to get a look inside of Ky's mind. &nbsp;I found his viewpoint to be very refreshing and almost pure in his feelings. &nbsp;Plus, it was a bonus to have male characters, who while very different from one another, were not absolute morons. &nbsp;It was so nice to just finally get some decent male love interests. &nbsp;I am really tired of this whole trend in YA of girls always falling for the pining after the controlling jerk. &nbsp;Kudos to Ally Condie for creating two different male characters in Xander and Ky who aren't actually jerks masquerading as the ideal choice.<br /><br />I have to say, that now I am kind of bummed that I have to wait a whole year to find out just how this series ends.<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8EugzOoAdAE/TqyOEurTFxI/AAAAAAAAAW0/Q8oOreiqZXU/s1600/Bio_Pic.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8EugzOoAdAE/TqyOEurTFxI/AAAAAAAAAW0/Q8oOreiqZXU/s200/Bio_Pic.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>About the Author</b></div><div style="text-align: right;">Ally Condie is the author of the New York Times bestselling novel MATCHED. She is also a former high school English teacher who lives with her husband and three sons outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. She loves reading, running, eating, and listening to her husband play guitar.</div>Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-55336982036175879102011-10-29T00:20:00.002-04:002011-10-29T19:56:33.256-04:00In My Mailbox #24: October 23 - 27, 2011 Edition!<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VYqS98ul268/TqtMIwdHRWI/AAAAAAAAATQ/ZKUrFOn5JWQ/s1600/IMM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VYqS98ul268/TqtMIwdHRWI/AAAAAAAAATQ/ZKUrFOn5JWQ/s200/IMM.png" width="165" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The purpose of the meme is to highlight books that you have received in your mailbox over the past week. &nbsp;So let's see what I got in my mailbox this week!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I must say that I went on a pretty epic shopping spree with Evie from <a href="http://www.evie-bookish.blogspot.com/">Bookish</a>. &nbsp;She thinks I am insane and I just may very well be because after that shopping trip and combined with books that were sent to me for review, I have 25 books for you this week. &nbsp;Yes, I did say 25!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0wpo0VnupZg/TqtQ8sSLakI/AAAAAAAAATw/DoxNDpA9tlA/s1600/4338062033_79e8def5c1_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0wpo0VnupZg/TqtQ8sSLakI/AAAAAAAAATw/DoxNDpA9tlA/s320/4338062033_79e8def5c1_o.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><b>Alice in Wonderland and Other Stories (Barnes &amp; Noble Leatherbound Classics Series) by Lewis Carroll</b><br /><br />[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7505716-alice-s-adventures-in-wonderland-other-stories">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1435122941/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=1435122941">Amazon</a>]<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Everything that Lewis Carroll ever published in book form appears in this volume. In addition, at least ten of the shorter pieces have never appeared in print except in their original editions. Included are: "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" "Through the Looking-Glass" "Sylvie and Bruno" "Sylvie and Bruno Concluded" "The Hunting of the Snark" &amp; all of the poetry, essays, phantasmagoria along with a substantial collection of the miscellaneous writings.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Alice's Adventures in Wonderland &amp; Other Stories is part of Barnes &amp; Noble's series of quality leatherbound volumes. Each title in the series presents a classic work in an attractively designed edition bound in genuine bonded leather, with beautiful illustrations and breathtaking endpapers. These books make elegant additions to any home library.</i><br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />So this one was not a planned purchase at all. &nbsp;I was actually looking for another book and saw this one. Once I saw it I just had to have it. &nbsp;The pink is really vibrant, not to mention the pages are edged in gold (and it has a built in bookmark). &nbsp;It is going to look so awesome on my shelf. &nbsp;It will look even better when I pick up the rest of the collection.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WOasRR72XOo/TqtU713yppI/AAAAAAAAAUA/vIm_F1hyBFQ/s1600/51mGxL5j-CL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WOasRR72XOo/TqtU713yppI/AAAAAAAAAUA/vIm_F1hyBFQ/s200/51mGxL5j-CL.jpg" width="140" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>1Q84 by Haruki Murakami</b></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11714385-1q84">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307593312/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0307593312">Amazon</a>]</div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>The long-awaited magnum opus from Haruki Murakami, in which this revered and bestselling author gives us his hypnotically addictive, mind-bending ode to George Orwell's 1984.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>The year is 1984. Aomame is riding in a taxi on the expressway, in a hurry to carry out an assignment. Her work is not the kind that can be discussed in public. When they get tied up in traffic, the taxi driver suggests a bizarre 'proposal' to her. Having no other choice she agrees, but as a result of her actions she starts to feel as though she is gradually becoming detached from the real world. She has been on a top secret mission, and her next job leads her to encounter the superhuman founder of a religious cult. Meanwhile, Tengo is leading a nondescript life but wishes to become a writer. He inadvertently becomes involved in a strange disturbance that develops over a literary prize. While Aomame and Tengo impact on each other in various ways, at times by accident and at times intentionally, they come closer and closer to meeting. Eventually the two of them notice that they are indispensable to each other. Is it possible for them to ever meet in the real world?</i><br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />This is an absolute beast of a book at about 900 and something pages. &nbsp;I must say, this is one of the best covers I have seen in a while. &nbsp;The actual hardcover has the picture on the front. &nbsp;The book then has a very thin dust jacket that almost looks like ricepaper, which then gives it a filmy overlay look. &nbsp;Amazing marketing really!<br /><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xm0y8WxxpvI/TqtcnUjvIxI/AAAAAAAAAUI/P7LifLgv-KA/s1600/10950924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xm0y8WxxpvI/TqtcnUjvIxI/AAAAAAAAAUI/P7LifLgv-KA/s200/10950924.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10950924-the-dovekeepers">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/145161747X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=145161747X">Amazon</a>]</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>In 70 CE, nine hundred Jews held out for months against armies of Romans on a mountain in the Judean desert, Masada. According to the ancient historian Josephus, two women and five children survived. Based on this tragic historical event, Hoffman weaves a spellbinding tale of four extraordinary, bold, resourceful, and sensuous women, each of whom has come to Masada by a different path. Yael’s mother died in childbirth, and her father never forgave her for that death. Revka, a village baker’s wife, watched the horrifically brutal murder of her daughter by Roman soldiers; she brings to Masada her twin grandsons, rendered mute by their own witness. Aziza is a warrior’s daughter, raised as a boy, a fearless rider and expert marksman, who finds passion with another soldier. Shirah is wise in the ways of ancient magic and medicine, a woman with uncanny insight and power. The lives of these four complex and fiercely independent women intersect in the desperate days of the siege, as the Romans draw near. All are dovekeepers, and all are also keeping secrets—about who they are, where they come from, who fathered them, and whom they love. </i><br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />I have been wanting to read this one for a while. &nbsp;After hearing Indigo CEO Heather Reismann speak about it last week and reading Christa's review (you can find it <a href="http://christashookedonbooks.blogspot.com/2011/10/review-dovekeepers-by-alice-hoffman.html">here</a>) I just knew I had to pick it up. &nbsp;Plus I just love historical fiction and this is something outside of the normal time period that I read.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eyvLtB78Ny0/TqtdpSLGxuI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/oVRSyqxqHpI/s1600/7171637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eyvLtB78Ny0/TqtdpSLGxuI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/oVRSyqxqHpI/s200/7171637.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare</b></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7171637-clockwork-angel">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416975861/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=1416975861">Amazon</a>]</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.</i><br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />I finally broke down and picked this one up. &nbsp;Fingers crossed that I actually like this one as I didn't enjoy the Mortal Instruments series at all. &nbsp;I don't even think I got a quarter of the way through the first book. &nbsp;I am really, really hoping I like this one!<br /><br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4NABLGMA8Cs/TqteZKTozpI/AAAAAAAAAUY/EdJFkjmymGE/s1600/7263429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4NABLGMA8Cs/TqteZKTozpI/AAAAAAAAAUY/EdJFkjmymGE/s200/7263429.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7263429-wolfsbane">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0399254838/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0399254838">Amazon</a>]</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>When Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemies, she’s certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer—one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack—and the man—she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.</i></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />I had been holding off on picking up Wolfsbane for a while. &nbsp;I am pretty funny when it comes to my books. &nbsp;I like them all to match. &nbsp;I have Nightshade in paperback and I also have an ARC of Bloodrose (which is also in paperback). &nbsp;I was hoping that this one would come out in paperback before I needed to read Bloodrose, but no dice. &nbsp;I finally caved and now have another mis-matched set on my shelves :(<br /><br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e4KU_rAlerg/TqtfBtDr5aI/AAAAAAAAAUg/WzxDWLEW9U4/s1600/9644151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e4KU_rAlerg/TqtfBtDr5aI/AAAAAAAAAUg/WzxDWLEW9U4/s200/9644151.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>Ashfall by Mike Mullin</b></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9644151-ashfall">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933718552/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=1933718552">Amazon</a>]</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />I originally got a copy of Ashfall by Mike Mullin months ago on NetGalley. &nbsp;The formatting for the kindle version was so messed up I gave up reading the book half way through. &nbsp;I have been eagerly waiting for this to come out so I could finish the book. &nbsp;From what I have read so far, I really like this one. &nbsp;Bonus, I only have like 1/2 the book to read.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X85f_lHj-To/Tqtfz0K1yPI/AAAAAAAAAUo/xNrTjIZuzuY/s1600/11283552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X85f_lHj-To/Tqtfz0K1yPI/AAAAAAAAAUo/xNrTjIZuzuY/s200/11283552.jpg" width="136" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Delirium by Lauren Oliver</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11283552-delirium">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062112430/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0062112430">Amazon</a>]</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Ninety-five days, and then I’ll be safe. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>I want to get it over with. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>It’s hard to be patient. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>It’s hard not to be afraid while I’m still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn’t touched me yet. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Still, I worry. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don’t.</i><br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />So many people *cough* <a href="http://mermaidvision.wordpress.com/">Angel</a> *cough* <a href="http://everafteresther.blogspot.com/">Brenna</a> *cough* <a href="http://thesavvyreader.ca/">Shannon</a> *cough* couldn't believe it when I told them that I hadn't yet read Delirium. &nbsp;I promised to pick up a copy and I did. &nbsp;I tell you the most time I spent in the store was trying to decide if I should get the copy with the original cover or the Special Edition cover. &nbsp;I ended up with the latter as when the second book comes out, the cover will be more along the lines of this one. &nbsp;My set will match!<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x8CEyACkXDg/Tqtgudl9dOI/AAAAAAAAAUw/D0ebGsEqJmQ/s1600/51DeutCFx3L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x8CEyACkXDg/Tqtgudl9dOI/AAAAAAAAAUw/D0ebGsEqJmQ/s200/51DeutCFx3L.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>Bunheads by Sophie Flack</b></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10757749-bunheads">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316126535/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0316126535">Amazon</a>]</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>As a dancer with the ultra-prestigious Manhattan Ballet Company, nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward juggles intense rehearsals, dazzling performances and complicated backstage relationships. Up until now, Hannah has happily devoted her entire life to ballet. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>But when she meets a handsome musician named Jacob, Hannah's universe begins to change, and she must decide if she wants to compete against the other "bunheads" in the company for a star soloist spot or strike out on her own in the real world. Does she dare give up the gilded confines of the ballet for the freedoms of everyday life?</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GJrWlGhtPpA/TqthK5sO1YI/AAAAAAAAAU4/pYpUs8qF9yQ/s1600/51IXWankh1L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GJrWlGhtPpA/TqthK5sO1YI/AAAAAAAAAU4/pYpUs8qF9yQ/s200/51IXWankh1L.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10637838-dark-inside">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/144242351X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=144242351X">Amazon</a>]</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Since mankind began, civilizations have always fallen: the Romans, the Greeks, the Aztecs…Now it’s our turn. Huge earthquakes rock the world. Cities are destroyed. But something even more awful is happening. An ancient evil has been unleashed, turning everyday people into hunters, killers, crazies.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Mason's mother is dying after a terrible car accident. As he endures a last vigil at her hospital bed, his school is bombed and razed to the ground, and everyone he knows is killed. Aries survives an earthquake aftershock on a bus, and thinks the worst is over when a mysterious stranger pulls her out of the wreckage, but she’s about to discover a world changed forever. Clementine, the only survivor of an emergency town hall meeting that descends into murderous chaos, is on the run from savage strangers who used to be her friends and neighbors. And Michael witnesses a brutal road rage incident that is made much worse by the arrival of the police--who gun down the guilty party and then turn on the bystanding crowd.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Where do you go for justice when even the lawmakers have turned bad? These four teens are on the same road in a world gone mad. Struggling to survive, clinging on to love and meaning wherever it can be found, this is a journey into the heart of darkness – but also a journey to find each other and a place of safety.</i></div><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C9mB1u9KRCo/Tqth5J2MunI/AAAAAAAAAVA/AUAqhAfqqbk/s1600/51YcfMTFcYL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C9mB1u9KRCo/Tqth5J2MunI/AAAAAAAAAVA/AUAqhAfqqbk/s320/51YcfMTFcYL.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong</b></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8709369-the-gathering">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061797022/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0061797022">Amazon</a>]</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Maya lives in a small medical-research town on Vancouver Island. How small? You can't find it on the map. It has less than two-hundred people, and her school has only sixty-eight students — for every grade from kindergarten to twelve. Now, strange things are happening in this claustrophobic town, and Maya's determined to get to the bottom of them. First, the captain of the swim team drowns mysteriously in the middle of a calm lake. A year later, mountain lions start appearing around Maya's home, and they won't go away. Her best friend, Daniel, starts getting negative vibes from certain people and things. It doesn't help that the new bad boy in town, Rafe, has a dangerous secret — and he's interested in one special part of Maya's anatomy: Her paw-print birthmark.</i></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I must say that I quite enjoyed the Darkest Powers series, so I finally broke down and purchased The Gathering. &nbsp;Fingers crossed that it lives up to the hype!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ik06I4GBP5w/TqtiRJp0WzI/AAAAAAAAAVI/wyAj1YV4xTo/s1600/9209290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ik06I4GBP5w/TqtiRJp0WzI/AAAAAAAAAVI/wyAj1YV4xTo/s200/9209290.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><b>Cleopatra Confesses by Carolyn Meyer</b><br /><br />[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9209290-cleopatra-confesses">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416987274/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=1416987274">Amazon</a>]<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>It is the first century B.C. Cleopatra, the third of the pharaoh's six children, is the one that her father has chosen to be the next queen of Egypt. But when King Ptolemy is forced into exile, Cleopatra is left alone to fend for herself in a palace rife with intrigue and murder. Smart, courageous, ambitious and sensuously beautiful, she possesses the charm to cause two of history's most famous leaders to fall in love with her. But as her cruel sisters plot to steal the throne, Cleopatra realizes there is only one person on whom she can rely--herself.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yes, I did purchase another book on Cleopatra. &nbsp;I would purchase a book on something else to do with Ancient Egypt if someone wrote one!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CUEl23c3E0U/Tqtirn6QF8I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/ruUmAaQpQJs/s1600/51%252BFIuAc%252BYL._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CUEl23c3E0U/Tqtirn6QF8I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/ruUmAaQpQJs/s200/51%252BFIuAc%252BYL._SL500_.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>In Other Worlds by Margaret Atwood</b></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11813234-in-other-worlds">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385533969/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0385533969">Amazon</a>]</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><b>In Other Worlds: SF and the Human Imagination</b> is Margaret Atwood's account of her relationship with the literary form we have come to know as "science fiction." This relationship has been lifelong, stretching from her days as a child reader in the 1940s, through her time as a graduate student at Harvard, where she worked on the Victorian ancestors of the form, and continuing as a writer and reviewer. This book brings together her three heretofore unpublished Ellmann Lectures on 2010 - "Flying Rabbits," which begins with Atwood's early rabbit superhero creations, and goes on to speculate about masks, capes, weakling alter egos, and Things with Wings; "Burning Bushes," which follows her into Victorian otherlands and beyond; and "Dire Cartographies," which investigates Utopias and Dystopias. <b>In Other Worlds</b> also reprints some of Atwood's key reviews of other practitioners of the form and thoughts about SF. She also elucidates the differences (as she sees them) between "science fiction" proper, and "speculative fiction," as well as "sword and sorcery/fantasy" and "slipstream fiction." For all readers who have loved the work of Margaret Atwood, especially <b>The Handmaid's Tale</b>, <b>The Blind Assassin</b>, <b>Oryx and Crake</b>, and <b>The Year of the Flood</b> - not to mention Atwood's 100,000-plus Twitter followers - <b>In Other Worlds</b> is a must.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This was one of the two books given to me in my Ninja Bag Swag from the Indigo Holiday Party. &nbsp;Margaret Atwood is a Canadian icon and that is enough for me. &nbsp;The fact that she can put our moron of a mayor in his place is just a bonus!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QlC18vzNEIc/TqtjfDKrTlI/AAAAAAAAAVY/bKIv77UnmJM/s1600/11720943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QlC18vzNEIc/TqtjfDKrTlI/AAAAAAAAAVY/bKIv77UnmJM/s1600/11720943.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11720943-the-cat-s-table">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307700119/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0307700119">Amazon</a>]</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>In the early 1950s, an eleven-year-old boy boards a huge liner bound for England. At mealtimes, he is placed at the lowly "Cat's Table" with an eccentric and unforgettable group of grownups and two other boys. As the ship makes its way across the Indian Ocean, through the Suez Canal, into the Mediterranean, the boys find themselves immersed in the worlds and stories of the adults around them. At night they spy on a shackled prisoner -- his crime and fate a galvanizing mystery that will haunt them forever.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Looking back from deep within adulthood, and gradually moving back and forth from the decks and holds of the ship to the years that follow the narrator unfolds a spellbinding and layered tale about the magical, often forbidden discoveries of childhood and the burdens of earned understanding, about a life-long journey that began unexpectedly with a sea voyage.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />This was the second book in my Ninja Bag Swag. &nbsp;Michael Ondaatje is also another awesome Canadian author. &nbsp;Plus, he is a Giller Prize Winner!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-caBbhXZUiMw/TnvrWg9l8bI/AAAAAAAAAIw/Rx36nctiQI0/s1600/9780061576607_0_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-caBbhXZUiMw/TnvrWg9l8bI/AAAAAAAAAIw/Rx36nctiQI0/s200/9780061576607_0_Cover.jpg" width="134" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>So Pretty It Hurts by Kate White</b></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12067241-so-pretty-it-hurts">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061576603/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0061576603">Amazon</a>]</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Bailey Weggins, the thirty-something, true crime journalist for Buzz, a leading celebrity magazine, needs a break. Plenty busy with her day job, her freelance work, and trying to get her first book noticed, she barely has time for her recently exclusive boyfriend, Beau Regan, much less herself. When Beau goes out of town, Bailey accepts an invitation with her friend Jesse to a music mogul's weekend house in upstate New York. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>But, the relaxing weekend getaway turns out to be more like an Agatha Christie whodunit. A weird tension has infected all the guests—a glamorous crowd of journalists and models, including the famous, and famously thin, supermodel Devon Barr. An impending snowstorm only adds to the tension. When Devon’s cold, lifeless body is found in her bed, Bailey immediately suspects foul play: she can’t shake the memory of a fearful and angry Devon shivering in the woods outside the house, whispering , “I have to get out here . . . It’s not safe for me.” </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>When evidence goes missing from the crime scene, Bailey once again finds herself a moving target—running closer to the truth and farther from safety.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This one was my Waiting on Wednesday pick sometime back in September. &nbsp;I am so stoked to actually have an ARC of this one. &nbsp;I can't wait to read it, but I am probably going to wait until the new year as the book doesn't come out until March 2012!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EhLs0ShKibM/Tqtnkxr4-BI/AAAAAAAAAVg/LzddEgHqpLY/s1600/51qSEYUmtgL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EhLs0ShKibM/Tqtnkxr4-BI/AAAAAAAAAVg/LzddEgHqpLY/s200/51qSEYUmtgL.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Birthdays for the Dead by Stuart MacBride</b></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;">[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12679411-birthdays-for-the-dead">Goodreads</a> | &nbsp;<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0007344171/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0007344171">Amazon</a>]</div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>The gritty new standalone crime novel from the No. 1 bestselling author of Shatter the Bones and Dark Blood Detective Constable Ash Henderson has a dark secret! Five years ago his daughter, Rebecca, went missing on the eve of her thirteenth birthday. A year later the first card arrived: homemade, with a Polaroid picture stuck to the front -- Rebecca, strapped to a chair, gagged and terrified. Every year another card: each one worse than the last. The tabloids call him The Birthday Boy. He's been snatching girls for twelve years, always in the run-up to their thirteenth birthday, sending the families his homemade cards showing their daughters being slowly tortured to death. But Ash hasn't told anyone about Rebecca's birthday cards -- they all think she's just run away from home -- because if anyone finds out, he'll be taken off the investigation. And he's sacrificed too much to give up before his daughter's killer gets what he deserves!</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So I received an ARC of Stuart MacBride's upcoming book Birthday's for the Dead earlier this week at an event at the HarperCollins Canada HQ. &nbsp;Stuart is flipping hysterical and if you ever have a chance to attend a reading or signing with him, do it! &nbsp;I dragged Evie along with me and we had a blast. &nbsp;We learned things that I probably shouldn't write here. &nbsp;Let's just say it all had to do with ways to kill a person.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pjJmOWCHwmQ/TqtoUyYkWXI/AAAAAAAAAVo/rgZgSDmCH04/s1600/9904384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pjJmOWCHwmQ/TqtoUyYkWXI/AAAAAAAAAVo/rgZgSDmCH04/s200/9904384.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;"><b>The Lens and the Looker by Lory S. Kaufman</b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;">[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9904384-the-lens-and-the-looker">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1936558025/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=1936558025">Amazon</a>]</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>There's hope for the future, but what about the past? </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>It’s the 24th century and humans, with the help of artificial intelligences (A.I.s) have finally created the perfect post-dystopian society. To make equally perfect citizens for this world, the elders have created History Camps, full sized recreations of cities from Earth’s distant pasts. Here teens live the way their ancestors did, doing the same dirty jobs and experiencing the same degradations. History Camps teach youths not to repeat the mistakes that almost caused the planet to die. But not everything goes to plan. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>In this first of a trilogy, we meet three spoiled teens in the year 2347. Hansum almost 17, is good looking and athletic. Shamira, 15, is sassy, independent and an artistic genius. Lincoln, 14, is the smart-aleck. But you don’t have to scratch too far beneath the surface to find his insecurities. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>These three “hard cases” refuse the valuable lessons History Camps teach. But when they are kidnapped and taken back in time to 1347 Verona, Italy, they only have two choices; adapt to the harsh medieval ways or die. The dangers are many, their enemies are powerful, and safety is a long way away. It’s hardly the ideal environment to fall in love – but that’s exactly what happens. In an attempt to survive, the trio risks introducing technology from the future. It could save them – or it could change history.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bB6Jg-RYKEY/Tqto2lxFdoI/AAAAAAAAAVw/V3ZAw7j-NNc/s1600/11126886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bB6Jg-RYKEY/Tqto2lxFdoI/AAAAAAAAAVw/V3ZAw7j-NNc/s200/11126886.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The Bronze and the Brimstone &nbsp;by Lory S. Kaufman</b></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;">[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11126886-the-bronze-and-the-brimstone">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1936558084/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=1936558084">Amazon</a>]</div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>What could go wrong in the 14th-century </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>for three time-traveling teens? </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>How about – EVERYTHING! </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Hansum, Shamira and Lincoln, three teens from the 24th-century, are trapped in 14th-century Verona, Italy. They’ve survived many deadly experiences by keeping their wits about them and by introducing futuristic technology into the past. Principal among these inventions is the telescope, which brought them to the attention to the rich and powerful. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>But standing out can get you into unexpected and dangerous situations. The nobles of Verona now believe Hansum is a savant, a genius inventor, especially after he brings them plans for advanced cannons and black powder. Being the center of attention is great, but the potential for trouble is now exponentially greater because people are watching Hansum’s every move. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Meanwhile, artistic genius Shamira has fallen for a Florentine artist with bloody and disasterous consequences. Lincoln, considered an incompetent back home in the 24th-century, has blossomed – at least until he’s shot in the head with an arrow. And Hansum, after secretly marrying his new master’s beautiful daughter, Guilietta, is offered the hand in marriage of lady Beatrice, daughter of the ruler of Verona. To refuse could mean calamity for all the teens. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Amazingly, none of this is their biggest challenge. Because a rash illness is spreading across Verona – and it is threatening to consume everyone. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Do they have a future in this past? </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I received the above two books directly from the author. &nbsp;I am part of the blog tour for the second one, so look out for that in December. &nbsp;I already have a copy of the second book, so I may do a giveaway here on the blog.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mF-RqVUDcfA/TqtpbZCzNDI/AAAAAAAAAV4/0BYI9vIWtKI/s1600/419T-ynB26L._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mF-RqVUDcfA/TqtpbZCzNDI/AAAAAAAAAV4/0BYI9vIWtKI/s200/419T-ynB26L._SL500_.jpg" width="137" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;"><b>Various Positions by Martha Schabas</b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;">[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10803071-various-positions">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0374380864/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0374380864">Amazon</a>]</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Nuanced, fresh, and gorgeously well-written, Martha Schabas' extraordinary debut novel takes us inside the beauty and brutality of professional ballet, and the young women striving to make it in that world. Shy and introverted, and trapped between the hyper-sexualized world of her teenaged friends and her dysfunctional family, Georgia is only at ease when she's dancing. Fortunately, she's an unusually talented and promising dancer. When she is accepted into the notoriously exclusive Royal Ballet Academy--Canada's preeminent dance school--Georgia thinks she has made the perfect escape. In ballet, she finds the exhilarating control and power she lacks elsewhere in her life: physical, emotional and, increasingly, sexual.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>This dynamic is nowhere more obvious than in Georgia's relationship with Artistic Director Roderick Allen. As Roderick singles her out as a star and subjects her to increasingly vicious training, Georgia obsesses about becoming his perfect student, disciplined and sexless. But a disturbing incident with a stranger on the subway, coupled with her dawning recognition of the truth of her parents' unhappy marriage, causes her to radically reassess her ideas about physical boundaries--a reassessment that threatens both Roderick's future at the academy and Georgia's ambitions as a ballerina.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have been dying to read this one. &nbsp;I thought it was coming out in February 2012, but when I went to the bookstore it was out on the shelves. &nbsp;Bonus is that is signed by the author!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m1nDWMrrwdk/Tqtp92-Bc1I/AAAAAAAAAWA/DJH7n4KstEE/s1600/51Etlto8gUL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m1nDWMrrwdk/Tqtp92-Bc1I/AAAAAAAAAWA/DJH7n4KstEE/s200/51Etlto8gUL.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Playground by 50 Cent</b></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;">[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9754801-playground">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159514434X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=159514434X">Amazon</a>]</div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>This poignant novel from international icon 50 Cent opens with thirteen-year-old Butterball in the office of a therapist named Liz. She is trying to get him to talk about why he assaulted his former best friend on the playground with a sock full of batteries. Butterball doesn’t have much going for him. He’s teased about his weight. He hates the Long Island suburb his mom moved them to, and he wishes he still lived with his dad in the city. Butterball’s dad is meaner to him than he likes to admit, and his mom is constantly working. Now Butterball is stuck in mandatory therapy sessions with Liz, who tries to uncover just what happened that day on the playground.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yep, you read that right. &nbsp;50 Cent wrote a book, and I am in possession of it. &nbsp;This is an ARC that I received from Evie. &nbsp;She's flying back to BC on Saturday and has no more room for books in her luggage! &nbsp;It looks like it's a fairly short book and I am kind of intrigued to see just what it's all about.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cONDajRMYo0/TqtqfXuKdpI/AAAAAAAAAWI/dhn0AYnHpkA/s1600/6413444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cONDajRMYo0/TqtqfXuKdpI/AAAAAAAAAWI/dhn0AYnHpkA/s200/6413444.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;"><b>Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott</b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;">[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6413444-living-dead-girl">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416960600/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=1416960600">Amazon</a>]</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>The thing is, you can get used to anything. You think you can't, you want to die, but you don't. You won't. You just are. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>This is Alice. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>She was taken by Ray five years ago. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>She thought she knew how her story would end. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>She was wrong.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sometimes my choices for books creep me out. &nbsp;Nevertheless, Living Dead Girl has been on my wish list for a while now.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A28X0BJt8IQ/TqtrDVtO-hI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/9paTEjgU1Eg/s1600/51R8oESRUYL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A28X0BJt8IQ/TqtrDVtO-hI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/9paTEjgU1Eg/s200/51R8oESRUYL.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa</b></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;">[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9659607-the-iron-knight">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0373210361/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0373210361">Amazon</a>]</div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>My name—my True Name—is Ashallayn'darkmyr Tallyn.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court. And I am dead to her.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl…</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yes, I bought it. &nbsp;I now have a complete set. &nbsp;Too bad I haven't even started reading them. &nbsp;I am sure I will get to them at some point, but I more than likely won't review the series.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vRcB835ps7E/TqtrgtUaAkI/AAAAAAAAAWY/J_y_4D28x4Q/s1600/7919992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vRcB835ps7E/TqtrgtUaAkI/AAAAAAAAAWY/J_y_4D28x4Q/s200/7919992.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams</b></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7919992-the-chosen-one">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058M6BGM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=B0058M6BGM">Amazon</a>]</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Thirteen-year-old Kyra has grown up in an isolated community without questioning the fact that her father has three wives and she has twenty brothers and sisters. That is, without questioning it much—if you don’t count her visits to the Ironton County Mobile Library on Wheels to read forbidden books, or her secret meetings with Joshua, the boy she hopes to choose for herself instead of having a man chosen for her. But when the Prophet decrees that Kyra must marry her sixty-year-old uncle—who already has six wives—she must make a desperate choice in the face of violence and her own fears of losing her family forever.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kvwWYquaRtk/Tqtr5Ql_KMI/AAAAAAAAAWg/3SQ3CW9zAig/s1600/10700016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kvwWYquaRtk/Tqtr5Ql_KMI/AAAAAAAAAWg/3SQ3CW9zAig/s200/10700016.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Cemetery Girl by David Bell</b></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;">[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10700016-cemetery-girl">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451234677/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0451234677">Amazon</a>]</div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Four years after Tom and Abby's 12-year-old daughter vanishes, she is found alive but strangely calm. When the teen refuses to testify against the man connected to her disappearance, Tom decides to investigate the traumatizing case on his own. Nothing can prepare him for what he is about to discover.</i></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h93JNtjzjTg/TqtseCRJxCI/AAAAAAAAAWo/bZPdMX_iwps/s1600/10429033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h93JNtjzjTg/TqtseCRJxCI/AAAAAAAAAWo/bZPdMX_iwps/s200/10429033.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday</b></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10429033-deadly-cool">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062003313/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0062003313">Amazon</a>]</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Hartley Grace Featherstone is having a very bad day. First she finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her with the president of the Herbert Hoover High School Chastity Club. Then he's pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And if that weren't enough, now he's depending on Hartley to clear his name. Seriously? Not cool. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>But as much as Hartley wouldn't mind seeing him squirm, she knows he's innocent, and she's the only one who can help him. Along with her best friend, Sam, and the school's resident Bad Boy, Chase, Hartley starts investigating on her own. But as the dead bodies begin to pile up, the mystery deepens, the suspects multiply, and Hartley begins to fear that she may be the killer's next victim.</i></div><br /><br />So that is it for my mailbox this week. &nbsp;A big thanks to Evie and HarperCollins Canada for giving me some awesome books. &nbsp;What did you get in your mailbox this week?<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k1L4Qop7I20/TqyRoa6PkYI/AAAAAAAAAW8/ckhniHhHC2Y/s1600/e810fe83f0d445bb945b64eab2fa4f57_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k1L4Qop7I20/TqyRoa6PkYI/AAAAAAAAAW8/ckhniHhHC2Y/s320/e810fe83f0d445bb945b64eab2fa4f57_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonus Pic of Evie finally realizing what I purchased!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142134785686783485.post-71101702096763322392011-10-25T08:30:00.004-04:002011-10-25T08:30:01.964-04:00Author Interview: Trevor Shane - Children of Paranoia<div class="p1"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1m8ZGse5ScA/ToPD_tvfVSI/AAAAAAAAAK0/J7K6nH3AvMg/s1600/10768183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1m8ZGse5ScA/ToPD_tvfVSI/AAAAAAAAAK0/J7K6nH3AvMg/s200/10768183.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><span class="s1">So today I am joined by Trevor Shane, author of <i>Children of Paranoia</i>. &nbsp;He has graciously agreed to allow me to interview him about his debut novel. &nbsp;<i>Children of Paranoia</i> is published by Dutton Books and was released on September 8, 2011.</span><br /><span class="s1"><br /></span><br /><span class="s1"><b>N:</b> <b>What inspired you to become a writer?</b></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><br /><span class="s1"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">T:</span></b> Ever since I was a very young kid, I’ve been a gluttonous reader and an uncontrollable daydreamer.&nbsp; The daydreaming has simply always been an integral part of how my brain works.&nbsp; Not only have I always daydreamed incessantly, but all of my daydreamers take on a very vivid and often complex narrative.&nbsp; So I didn’t really need any inspiration to write; the stories were already in my head.&nbsp; I simply needed inspiration to overcome the fear of the rejection that is inherent in being a writer.&nbsp; The inspiration to overcome that fear came from three things that hit my almost simultaneously: (1) a sudden realization that I was getting older and that the time I’ve been allotted is finite; (2) a day job that I hated; and (3) a story that I felt like I had to share with the world.&nbsp; Children of Paranoia just happens to be that story.</span><br /><span class="s1"><br /></span><br /><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>N: What was your favourite chapter (or part) of Children of Paranoia to write and why?</b></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><br /><span class="s1"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">T:</span></b> Not to give too much away but there is a scene in Children of Paranoia where Joseph, the main protagonist, is on an island during a moonless night and is running away from people who are clearly out to kill him.&nbsp; He eventually reaches a dead end on a beach and realizes that the only way he might be able to escape is to try to hide from them in the churning, black ocean water.&nbsp; If you’ve ever swam in the ocean at night (or, failing that, if you’ve ever seen the first scene of Jaws), you know who scary floating in waves in the dark can be.&nbsp; I tried to take that fear even further by forcing Joseph to plunge himself down into the water to avoid being seen by his chasers, leaving him floating in a black abyss.&nbsp; A lot of Children of Paranoia was fun to write, but that scene probably tops my list because it is so visceral.</span><br /><span class="s1"><br /></span><br /><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>N: Was it a conscious decision to make this a series and not a standalone book?</b></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><br /><span class="s1"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">T:</span></b> From the moment that I conceived of it, Children of Paranoia was always the first book in a trilogy.&nbsp; When done right, I love trilogies.&nbsp; The key to a good trilogy to me is to have each part of the trilogy have a natural beginning and ending and to have each part tell a complete story but to have the three parts work together in a way that makes each part even more satisfying than it would be on its own.&nbsp; With Children of Paranoia, I also saw a unique opportunity to tell each of the three books from a different perspective and to have each of the three books focus on a different character.&nbsp; While that may have been done before, it’s a new concept to me and something that I’m really excited about.</span><br /><span class="s1"><br /></span><br /><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>N: Is there a message that you want readers to take away after having read the book?</b></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><br /><span class="s1"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">T:</span></b> I’m a firm believer that you can’t dictate the message in your writing.&nbsp; If you try, your work is going to be much less compelling and you’re not going to convince people of your message anyway (though I’ll admit there are a whole bunch of Ayn Rand fans out there who would seem to prove me wrong).&nbsp; Essentially, I believe that, once you publish your work, you don’t own it anymore.&nbsp; Once it’s out there, it belongs to the readers and it’s up to them to find their own message.&nbsp; All I’ll say is that I hope Children of Paranoia makes people think and that they find something in it that makes them look at the world a little bit differently.</span><br /><span class="s1"><br /></span><br /><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>N: If you had to go back to the beginning and do it all over again, is there any aspect of Children of Paranoia that you would change?&nbsp; Why or why not?</b></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><br /><span class="s1"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">T:</span></b> This is a tough question.&nbsp; I’m pretty sure my answer will be different ten years from now, but I can’t think of anything that I’d change in the final product.&nbsp; I’m immensely proud of Children of Paranoia and incredibly happy with the feedback that I’ve gotten (you can read a bunch of the reviews <a href="http://childrenofparanoia.com/wordpress/?cat=4"><span class="s2">here</span></a>).&nbsp; So, I guess the real question is the “why not” part.&nbsp; Getting your first novel published by a traditional publisher is still an immensely grinding process.&nbsp; I finished the first draft of Children of Paranoia in 2008 and it didn’t get published until 2011.&nbsp; When I finished it, it had a different title, was 30% longer than the final product and wasn’t nearly as good.&nbsp; I got lucky though and got to work with a wonderful agent and a great team at Dutton, all of whom really loved the book and understood what I was trying to do with it (so I never had to fight them on the things that I considered important).&nbsp; All of whom also had opinions on how to make Children of Paranoia better.&nbsp; I really think that the things that needed to be changed in Children of Paranoia were changed through this process and I ended up with a book that’s way better than I ever dreamed it would be.&nbsp; So, no, I wouldn’t change a thing in the finished product and hope that most readers agree.</span><br /><span class="s1"><br /></span><br /><span class="s1">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br /><span class="s1"><br /></span><br /><span class="s1">I would like to thank Trevor for stopping by and participating in the interview. &nbsp;You can order a copy of his book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0525952373/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=alievre03-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0525952373">here</a>!</span><br /><span class="s1"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pzuN3q-SEGQ/TqYNgISsw1I/AAAAAAAAAP4/1hZ2gcSr-SA/s1600/TrevorShane+2+credit+Kevin+Trageser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pzuN3q-SEGQ/TqYNgISsw1I/AAAAAAAAAP4/1hZ2gcSr-SA/s320/TrevorShane+2+credit+Kevin+Trageser.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>Be sure to connect with Trevor Shane online!<br /><br /><br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.childrenofparanoia.com/">Website</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/childofparanoia">Twitter</a></li><li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Trevor-Shane/150972244938983">Trevor Shane on Facebook</a></li><li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=151640338211999">Children of Paranoia on Facebook</a></li></ul><br /><span class="s1"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="s1"><br /></span>Nicole @ Nicole About TOwnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998981074371460151noreply@blogger.com2